Why do EV's in general have poor top speed

[Mach1E]

Why is this an issue?
There is no public road where it is legal to drive more then 80 mph

False.

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[Kevin P]

Back in the mid 1970's, the car manufacturers were required to limit the top speeds of cars for the energy crisis - but their first step was to just change the speedometers to peg at 85 mph. It took a couple of years to de-power the engines.

The 85mph speedometer lasted until the late 80s for a lot of cars. But your blurb about de-powering the engines to reduce top speed is not accurate. Lower power engines began showing up around 1973, and were in full swing by 1975 or so, due to new government emissions requirements. Tops speeds going down was an effect, not the cause. But even all through the late 70s, the dark ages of performance, the "sports cars" were capable of 110-120mph or thereabouts. By the mid 80s, the manufacturers had figured out how to make more power while meeting those requirements. The 1984 Corvette, for example, could hit (barely) 150mph. It was a big deal at the time.

My 1988 Mustang GT had an 85mph speedometer until I replaced it with a 140mph one from Ford Motorsport. Its top speed was supposedly around 135-140 depending on several factors.

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

Why is this an issue?
There is no public road where it is legal to drive more then 80 mph

? Here we go. Limit everything to 85mph then, right? There are 80-85mph limits in numerous toll roads that many traverse every day here in Texas. And the 80th percentile speed on said roads is often 90-95+ mph. So, one can be sanctimonious about posted limits, or, drive the actual use case. And if you need to pass you will easily exceed 100mph for a short duration.
And I’m not talking weaving in and out of traffic like Jeff Bridges and James Woods in Against All Odds, I mean adults passing properly on the left when openings are clear.

 

[Kevin P]

? Here we go. Limit everything to 85mph then, right? There are 80-85mph limits in numerous toll roads that many traverse every day here in Texas. And the 80th percentile speed on said roads is often 90-95+ mph. So, one can be sanctimonious about posted limits, or, drive the actual use case. And if you need to pass you will easily exceed 100mph for a short duration.
And I’m not talking weaving in and out of traffic like Jeff Bridges and James Woods in Against All Odds, I mean adults passing properly on the left when openings are clear.

Seems about half the people on this board are about into cars as they are toasters. Appliances. Its a wildly different take on topics compared to some of the performance-oriented places on the web that I frequent. Kind of funny.

 

[Rt1AWD]

False.

How many stretches and how many miles in total have higher then 80 speed limit?

 

[Rt1AWD]

Seems about half the people on this board are about into cars as they are toasters. Appliances. Its a wildly different take on topics compared to some of the performance-oriented places on the web that I frequent. Kind of funny.

I believe driving a car is not the smartest way to boost adrenaline. There are a lot of much more exciting and fun but at the same time legal activities for that.

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

I believe driving a car is not the smartest way to boost adrenaline. There are a lot of much more exciting and fun but at the same time legal activities for that.

Listen, we aren’t talking about adrenaline rushes or racing. We are talking about traffic that flows at 90-95mph. In the 70-75mph zones which are literally all over in TX people routinely cruise at 80-85+. It’s just daily driving for us. Moms in minivans/SUVs, dudes in F150s, bros in Camaros/Mustangs.

Everyone is doing it and most aren’t clowning around. But you can always tell the asshole who is looking at their smartphone. Because they’re going 10-15mph Under the limit and weaving all over the place. There is your safety hazard right there.

 

[Sealevel]

? Here we go. Limit everything to 85mph then, right? There are 80-85mph limits in numerous toll roads that many traverse every day here in Texas. And the 80th percentile speed on said roads is often 90-95+ mph. So, one can be sanctimonious about posted limits, or, drive the actual use case. And if you need to pass you will easily exceed 100mph for a short duration.
And I’m not talking weaving in and out of traffic like Jeff Bridges and James Woods in Against All Odds, I mean adults passing properly on the left when openings are clear.

I agree most exceed the speed limit for a short period when passing another vehicle on a 2 lane road - but that doesn't make it legal. One of the questions in the driving manuals of most states asks the question of how fast you can drive to pass another vehicle - the "correct" answer is the speed limit. If you are passing someone who is doing the speed limit or near it, you are speeding. As for encountering an oncoming vehicle "you didn't see", you failed to adequately assess the situation and would be at fault in an accident investigation. Legal may not be "real world", but it will be what you are judged on.

 

[Rt1AWD]

Listen, we aren’t talking about adrenaline rushes or racing. We are talking about traffic that flows at 90-95mph. In the 70-75mph zones which are literally all over in TX people routinely cruise at 80-85+. It’s just daily driving for us. Moms in minivans/SUVs, dudes in F150s, bros in Camaros/Mustangs.

Everyone is doing it and most aren’t clowning around. But you can always tell the asshole who is looking at their smartphone. Because they’re going 10-15mph Under the limit and weaving all over the place. There is your safety hazard right there.

You don't have to drive over speed limit even if other people do. But overall I agree - If you have to drive higher then 80 every day then probably EV is not the best choice for you at this time. You'll end up spending for electricity more then for gas.

I don't understand, why there is no some sort of Overdrive mode on EV's that would work like second gear or something.

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

I agree most exceed the speed limit for a short period when passing another vehicle on a 2 lane road - but that doesn't make it legal. One of the questions in the driving manuals of most states asks the question of how fast you can drive to pass another vehicle - the "correct" answer is the speed limit. If you are passing someone who is doing the speed limit or near it, you are speeding. As for encountering an oncoming vehicle "you didn't see", you failed to adequately assess the situation and would be at fault in an accident investigation. Legal may not be "real world", but it will be what you are judged on.

To clarify, I’m referring to passing on the left on divided 2-3 lane highways, not on 2-lane roads in the oncoming lane.

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

You don't have to drive over speed limit even if other people do. But overall I agree - If you have to drive higher then 80 every day then probably EV is not the best choice for you at this time. You'll end up spending for electricity more then for gas.

I don't understand, why there is no some sort of Overdrive mode on EV's that would work like second gear or something.

Our 4X seems fine at 85+, no issues at all. We average 3.1kw/mile over 3000 miles so far. And we accelerate briskly often.

To your overdrive question - Porsche Taycan says hello.

 

[Mach1E]

How many stretches and how many miles in total have higher then 80 speed limit?

Why? Are you writing a paper for your school project?

This may help: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

 

[Kevin P]

I believe driving a car is not the smartest way to boost adrenaline. There are a lot of much more exciting and fun but at the same time legal activities for that.

I rest my case. Exciting and fun are opinions. You don't have to drive like an asshole to have excitement and fun.

 

[Rt1AWD]

I rest my case. Exciting and fun are opinions. You don't have to drive like an asshole to have excitement and fun.

There is a reason for speed limits

 

[Mach1E]

There is a reason for speed limits

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/is-the-autobahn-safer-than-u-s-highways/?amp

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