Electric Truck Experience: We don’t have an 18-speed transmission!

Why do we need a speed transmission system in a vehicle? How is the electric truck transmission system? We would check out a few differences between conventional truck transmission and electric truck transmission today.

A conventional truck has 18-speed transmission. How many speed transmission gear does an electric truck have?

Most of the electric trucks already manufactured, or planned to manufacture, the total number of transmission is two, three, or four.

The electric trucks and bused considerably reduces the oil demands and help out to reduce air pollution.

The transmission system in an electric truck differs from that in a conventional truck.

Why do a transmission gear require in a vehicle?

A conventional diesel engine has only a narrow peak torque range and it cannot operate at very low speed. For example, a diesel engine can not operate at 1 RMP. It always has one idle speed and it will be stalled below that speed.

To move the vehicle at s speed below the idle speed, a transmission with a reduced gear ratio is necessary.

Advantages of Electric truck – Electric Truck Transmission

As far as electric motors are concerned, they can be operated at a wide speed range. Even from 0 RPM to several 1000 RPM.

The wide torque range of electric motor avoids the necessity of a transmission gear system in an electric vehicle.

The transmission system should provide a smooth speed transmission and high efficiency.

In an electric vehicle, the motor itself can operate efficiently in a wide range of speed torque region.

Since the truck has to have a very high starting torque at low speed, a two-speed transmission is used in general in electric trucks.

One for starting and other for cruising.

While a diesel truck shifts gear at 10, 20, and 30mph, an electric truck shifts the gear once and provides the same performance more efficiently.

Characteristics of Electric Truck Transmission System

The main characteristics of electric truck gear are the reduced number of transmission ratios. As we mentioned earlier, a conventional truck has an 18-speed transmission system whereas an electric truck has only 2, 3, or 4-speed transmission

The second notable difference of conventional truck’s speed transmission and electric truck’s speed transmission is the absence of specific reverse gear.

An electric motor can rotate in the reverse direction as well with the proper control signals. The vehicle could move backward on the same transmission gears that use for the forward movement. Only the direction of motor rotation changes.

The absence of a slipping clutch system is another advantage of an electric truck transmission gear system. It results in the durability of the transmission system.

As far as the truck drivers are concered, the electric truck experience would be a little bit different than than that of conventional trucks.

electric truck transmission

Conclusion

Electric trucks have a large potential to reduce environmental pollution by use of the electric powered motor in the powertrain. A notable difference between the conventional truck and the electric truck is the transmission system.

The 18-speed transmission in the conventional truck would be replaced with 2, 3, or 4-speed transmission in electric trucks.

Don’t forget to share the post with your friends and follow us on FacebookLinkedInTwitterInstagramand YouTube!

Keypoints

  • Electric Truck transmission is 2, 3, or 4 speed transmission
  • Conventional truck’s speed transmission is 18 speed
  • There is no specific reverse gear for electric truck
  • E-Truck transmission is durable due to less complexsity and absence of clutch slipping at low speed

You may also like