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OreoSpeedwagon@lemmy.ca

Buying an EV? Don't Waste Your Money on That Sporty AWD Model (www.gearpatrol.com)

submitted 2 years ago by dom@lemmy.ca to c/electriccars@lemmy.ca

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Thoughts? I live in a wintery biome so having awd gives me a bit of peace of mind

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[–] HappyMeatbag@beehaw.org 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (13 children)

This article makes two points that I wish every driver was aware of.

No matter how fast you’d like to go (or how fast the manufacturer says you can go), there’s only so much power you can deploy safely (and legally) on public roads.

Yes. Spending thousands extra on an 800 hp monster is NOT worth it for the vast majority of car buyers.

All-wheel-drive is a significant reason buyers flock to dual-motor EVs. But AWD is overrated. It can help you start in the winter. But it doesn’t help you stop.

Inertia does not care if your car has two or four wheel drive. Stopping distance depends mostly on the mass of your vehicle, the condition of your brakes, and the road surface. The number of wheels connected to the engine doesn’t matter at all. It’s purely a physics problem, and physics doesn’t fuck around. Of course, you should still make the best choice for your needs… just be sure you understand what AWD can and cannot do.

[–] dom@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Driving in snow is about more than just stopping power. I live in the country and driving through snow drifts can sometimes mean two wheels end up in ice conditions and two on dry pavement. Improved traction helps in this case as well.

[–] HappyMeatbag@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Totally. That’s why I just edited my comment to include that “make the best choice for your needs” bit.

I live in New Jersey, so I have a some experience driving in snow, but not as much as you probably do.

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