Electric cars seem to be taking over our roads, and deciding to buy one requires quite a bit of decision to make. One of the decisions is how many motors you are willing to pay for.
Most electric vehicles offer a single-motor option, which often results in the vehicle powering either the rear or front wheels. However, you can also spend money on a dual-motor version for more power and the benefits of all-wheel drive. Both configurations are excellent electric vehicles, but there are differences.
What is a single-motor electric vehicle?
When an electric vehicle is designated as a single-motor model, the vehicle in question usually has an electric motor that powers the front or rear wheels. In a few cases, vehicles can have two electric motors but do not have all-wheel drive functionality, such as the Rivian electric delivery van, which is a front-wheel drive setup with two electric motors in front.
This means that each electric motor sends torque to one front wheel. This is an exception, though. Typically, electric vehicles that are completely front- or rear-wheel drive are driven by an electric motor.
This electric motor is connected to a single-speed transmission through which power is distributed to the wheels. A manufacturer’s single-motor variant usually has a superior range, as these vehicles also tend to produce less power.
If you’re in the market for an electric car and you don’t need all the fancy stuff, a single-motor electric car might be the best option. Add to that the fact that you might get better range from a single-motor variant, and that’s a complete win.
As mentioned, the only drawbacks are the reduced power compared to the dual-motor variant, as well as the lack of all-wheel drive. If you want to upgrade to all-wheel drive, you’ll have to shell out more money for a dual-motor model.
What is a dual-motor electric vehicle?
Two electric motors power a dual-motor electric vehicle, usually with one motor powering the rear wheels and the other powering the front wheels. This provides a very convenient way to implement all-wheel drive in electric vehicles. Of course, there are more advanced AWD systems present in electric vehicles, such as the awesome Rivian R1T’s four-motor AWD.
There are many advantages to having separate motors control the front and rear axles.
The first of these advantages is more motivation. It’s simple; You add an electric motor to make the vehicle nearly twice as powerful. The second advantage is that the addition of another motor can power the other axle, which equips the vehicle with all-wheel drive.
The all-wheel drive system of electric vehicles has many advantages over the all-wheel drive system of conventional internal combustion vehicles. This is especially true for ultra-advanced systems like the one adopted by Rivian, which uses four electric motors to power each wheel. A system like this can deliver torque exactly where it needs it.
Gasoline-powered vehicles can’t compete with that, and two-motor electric vehicles (though not as advanced as four-motors) still benefit from some of the advantages of conventional vehicles, as well as the advantages of single-motor electric vehicles. For example, with two electric motors, the vehicle can choose which axle to send power to, which means that if the front or rear axle loses traction, the electric car can cut off power to that particular axle.
This level of control can only be achieved by the on/off nature of the electric motor. Even if an electric car uses an open differential on each axle, the car can still apply brakes to any single wheel that loses traction. Such a system already exists in conventional cars, but when you mix it with the option to adjust the power between the front and rear axles, the electric car won’t find itself easily stuck.
Are there any disadvantages of dual motors?
Dual-motor electric vehicles enjoy many advantages over single-motor electric vehicles, such as increased power and the overall advantages of all-wheel drive. However, single-motor variants in the EV family are often more efficient models.
This makes sense, as dual-motor vehicles are typically top-of-the-line, high-performance models in EV manufacturers’ lineups. The longest-range modern IONIQ 5 model is a single-motor variant, while the two-motor model loses some range.
So did Tesla, which added a third motor to its super-fast Model S Plaid, but the car lost several miles of range. The dual-motor long-range version of the Model 3 has more range than the RWD model, but that’s mostly due to the larger battery.
Adding an electric motor will also add weight, but electric vehicles are already heavy, and one more electric motor is likely to be overlooked. Another factor that must be taken into account is the complexity of adding one motor, as well as another differential, and all the related hardware that drives the wheels.
Electric cars are generally very reliable because the electric motor is almost bulletproof, but you add more parts that may fail, rather than a single-motor car. The last negative factor regarding dual-motor electric vehicles is the increase in price.
If you decide to buy a dual-motor variant of your favorite electric car, the manufacturer will charge you more. There’s no way around it; Your car will enjoy more performance and all-weather capability, but you’ll pay for these additional benefits.
Dual Motor vs. Single Motor EVs: Which Is Best?
It depends on what you’re doing for the vehicle, the level of performance you’re looking for, and where you’re primarily driving. For example, if you want the fastest electric car that performs well in any weather conditions, you should opt for the dual-motor version.
But if you live in a place with mild winters and want reliable transportation without any drama, a single-motor electric car will suffice. Most people won’t find themselves racing their EV at every opportunity, so the difference in power between a two-motor EV and a single-motor won’t be too noticeable.
The single-motor version will also be more profitable, so it is ultimately up to the owner to choose the vehicle that best suits their lifestyle.
Both single-motor and dual-motor electric vehicles are top-notch vehicles
No matter which electric motor configuration you choose, you can’t go wrong with an electric car. The instantaneous torque always amazes the driver while reducing scheduled maintenance.
Buying an electric car also means that you can skip all future gas station trips, which is enough reason to use an electric vehicle, whether it’s a dual-motor or single-motor variant.
