Why are electric cars more relaxing?

Electric cars can help reduce driving fatigue thanks to their driving comfort. Here are 5 main reasons why electric travel is less tiring.

When we talk about traveling in an electric car, an argument frequently comes up, that of the absence (or saving) of fatigue during long journeys. I wondered for a long time about the relevance of this statement, until I went electric. And see for myself that it was true. In fact, as is often the case in this type of debate, the most incredulous are those who have never put their butt in an electric car.

Of course, it must also be recognized that the most recent thermals have also become very quiet and smooth to drive. But this peace and comfort concerns almost exclusively the top of the range, while in electric all the models are zen. And, in any case, the difference remains significant. So much so that when you have driven exclusively on electric power for a long time, getting back behind the wheel of a thermal car, even a luxury one, even a recent one, has that little scent of returning to something a little rustic.

But then, if that’s true, what’s the reason for this feeling of arriving rested at your destination aboard an electric car? In fact, it is a sum of weak signals, which, put together, contribute to increased comfort. In fact, electric cars can help reduce driving fatigue thanks to their driving comfort. They are in fact generally quieter and smoother than thermal cars. This allows drivers to relax and concentrate on the road.

Remember that fatigue is one of the main causes of road accidents. According to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), it is responsible for nearly a third of fatal accidents in France.

What are these weak signals? Here are the top 5, but the list is certainly not exhaustive.

The silent operation of the motors

The motors of electric cars emit almost no noise. Only furious acceleration will trigger – depending on the model – a slight whistling or buzzing sound at very high revs, but this use case remains rare in any case. The rest of the time, it’s radio silence. Be careful, we are talking about the silence of the engines. Because we do not forget that in the operation of a moving automobile, other noises intervene, mainly rolling noises and air friction. On the latter two, no notable difference between electric and thermal. Even a small disadvantage for some electric ones, which, in their hunt for excess weight, sacrifice insulation somewhat. As for rolling noise, which can be amplified by the greater weight of electric cars, many manufacturers are looking into the issue to provide new tires with quieter treads.

And the AVAS, you ask me? Yes, the mandatory sound system (since July 2019) which consists of forcing electric and thermal vehicles to emit an artificial sound below 20 km/h so that they are heard by pedestrians can be noisy. But this is more of a marketing choice by manufacturers who value their sound identity. And it is sometimes very successful, and in any case can be deactivated beyond 20 km/h.

Another source of silence is the frequent absence of a transmission shaft. Since the motors are generally directly installed on the running gear, electric cars, even with 4-wheel drive, do without a transmission, which reduces a hum that is certainly subliminal, but present in the passenger compartment. Of those sounds that you don’t really identify, but which exist.

Advantage to electric, therefore, especially when we know the devastation and fatigue that noise pollution can produce.

Less vibration

Along with the silence, this is certainly what surprises you the most when you get into an electric car for the first time. So much so that it’s even a little disconcerting because the absence of vibrations generates a loss of bearings. Indeed, along with the sound of the engine, vibrations are the other dynamic element that tells you that the engine is running. So of course, here again, modern thermals filter vibrations surprisingly well, but we are far from the absolute tranquility of an electric car, especially when stationary.

One-pedal driving

So that’s really a revelation, and an absolutely unique characteristic of electric cars. Depending on the power of the engine and the energy regeneration when lifting the foot, after a short learning period, an electric car can be controlled almost exclusively with the right foot, without ever braking. Only emergency braking will require depressing the middle pedal. This new type of driving contributes enormously to the zenitude of electric vehicles. This is perhaps even the most important element along with the silence of operation. Anyone who has experienced cramps in their right calf after a few dozen kilometers in a traffic jam or in a succession of speed bumps and roundabouts of which our beautiful country is world champion will understand what we are talking about. In electric, this kind of inconvenience is finite.

No gearbox

Certainly, many thermal cars are now equipped with automatic gearboxes, but there is still a box, generally with 7 gears which move up and down as you drive. It’s nice, it can even provide a few thrills during nice revs, with or without paddles on the steering wheel, but in the long run it is also a factor of fatigue, especially downshifts, especially if the gearbox is not not very well staged, which can cause undesirable jerks in the transmission. And in the buttocks. With electric, whether you accelerate or slow down, everything is linear and “seamless”, in short, it’s relaxing.

No latency in accelerator support

This chapter joins the previous one. No gearbox means zero acceleration lag. This is moreover, with instantaneous torque, one of the reasons which contribute to the fact that the acceleration of an electric car, even of modest power, is unbeatable over the first meters (and over the first hundreds of meters with the most powerful). In fact, as you drive with one foot and the juice comes immediately, you have this feeling that your brain is directly connected to the engine(s), without any intermediary. Not only is it extremely relaxing, but it is also an indisputable element of safety, particularly when overtaking.

These are the 5 main reasons which help make electric journeys less stressful and less tiring. To which we could also add other points, such as the fact that an electric one does not heat up, or in any case only emits very few calories, or even the fact that we no longer have to dealing with stops at gas stations which are generally one of the most unpleasant moments of thermal travel. Of course, you have to stop to recharge, but it’s hidden time, and anyone who drives electric will tell you that it’s generally a good time, which also contributes to the zenitude of the trip, provided that everything is obviously happening, which is becoming the norm. And then on electric, we also sometimes drive slower, and for shorter times, so obviously, less stress and fatigue.

Come on, I’ll leave you, I have a hammock to sort out.