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The popularity of electric cars increases day by day. In fact, the EU recently voted to ban sales of new combustion engine vehicles by 2035 – so the driving world is going electric quickly. But, with a 120-year history (since the Model T), the mechanics of combustion engine vehicles have become so familiar that an alternative seems alien. Even drivers of automatic vehicles, for example, are used to the feeling of gears changing – so what’s in store for the great change to electric cars?
The short answer to this is: Yes, pretty much all electric cars are automatic – but not in the way you’d expect: the reason why is quite interesting.
What are car gearboxes for?
Combustion engines need to be paired with gearboxes in order to convert the rotational energy of the engine into useful power (torque). This is because gears work in fancy ways to reduce or increase the power that comes out of the engine in a way that is suitable for the current momentum of the vehicle.
First gear, for example, uses a large rotation, which means that the rotational speed is much lower, which in turn means that more of the power of the engine is transferred to the car’s axles. Think about this like trying to turn a huge steering wheel yourself – it’s harder work but puts more of your physical strength into the turning.
A really small steering wheel can be turned more quickly, but you’d struggle to turn it while stationary – it’s why cars without power steering all had gigantic steering wheels!
This difference in power supply is necessary for an engine to be able to efficiently get a car going from a stationary position (like at a junction) – and the higher gears serve to keep the car going in a fuel efficient way at higher speeds. What’s more, by virtue of being a mechanical component with many moving parts, an engine’s power output varies naturally at different speeds due to the physical limitations of metal rubbing against metal.
The gearbox, then, serves to make the most of an engine’s power. Whether you manually change the gears while driving or the automatic transmission does it for you doesn’t really matter – the gearbox is necessary for the combustion engine vehicle to work properly.
Do electric vehicles need a gearbox?
So why the long preamble? Well, the difference between a combustion engine and an electric motor are almost complete opposites. In an electric motor (especially the modern brushless ones), almost nothing touches in order to create the rotational force. This means that the entire torque potential of the electric motor is available at any point.
Now, an electric car clearly doesn’t go to supercar speeds in a blink of an eye because it’s also bogged down with weight, slowed by aerodynamic drag, and must fight against tyre friction with the road. But it doesn’t necessarily need gears to accelerate at a smooth rate.
Some cars still mimic gears
Surprisingly, and probably to put drivers at ease while giving them more tactile feedback during driving, some electric vehicles are being designed to mimic the feel of changing gears. This isn’t at all necessary from a technical perspective but definitely shows the unexpected level of subconscious interaction we have with our cars while driving.
All this is to say that, yes, almost all electric cars (other than some odd outliers) are automatic in the sense that you don’t have to think about changing gears, other than the usual Drive, Reverse, Park settings. But they’re technically not ‘automatic’ because there isn’t a computer that has to think about changing gears!
Driving in heavy rain can be tricky and bring extra risks. Check out our guide for top tips to stay safe and avoid breakdowns if travelling in wet conditions.
Is the UK on the verge of ‘the coldest winter for 50 years?’ Even if El Niño doesn't hit the UK this winter, reduce the risk of a winter breakdown by making sure your car battery is winter-ready.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
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Select Tyre Size
Front Tyre Size
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
We have identified the tyre size(s) that may fit your {VEHICLE}. Please select your front tyre size and rear tyre size below before clicking 'Continue'.
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Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
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Centres do not open until 10:00 on bank holidays. If choosing an earlier appointment time on a bank holiday, please bring your vehicle to centre at 10:00 rather than the time shown.