Electric driving: What is Torque?

What actually is torque? And why does it feel so different in an electric car?

TL;DR - What is torque?

Torque is the rotational force that gets your wheels turning; measured in Newton metres (Nm), it's what you feel every time you pull away or put your foot down.

In a petrol or diesel engine, torque builds gradually through combustion and varies depending on your rev range and gear.

Electric motors deliver maximum torque instantly from 0 RPM, with no gearbox, no rev range to chase, and no lag — just immediate, smooth power.

Whether a hybrid gets instant torque depends on the type and the mode it's running in.

So, what is torque?

Simply put, torque is your car's pulling power — the rotational force that gets the wheels turning and you moving. Measured in Newton metres (Nm), it's essentially how much grunt an engine can produce from a standstill.

The more torque a car has, the quicker it'll pull away. And electric vehicles (EVs) have it in abundance. In fact, it’s delivered instantly the moment you press the accelerator. No waiting for revs to build, no gears to work through. 

Just immediate, seamless power.

It's a big part of why EVs feel so addictive to drive; and it's something you notice from the very first time you get behind the wheel.

But there's more to torque than that first surge of acceleration. 

Let’s break down what torque actually is, how it's produced and measured, how it compares to brake horsepower, and what it means for hybrid cars.

The rundown on torque

We've covered the basics of torque — now let's get into the detail.

What is torque in cars?

Torque is the rotational force that gets your wheels turning, and ultimately, what gets you moving.

Every car has it, and it's most noticeable in the moments that matter in everyday driving: pulling away at junctions, overtaking on a dual carriageway, or hauling a heavy load.

It's measured in Newton metres (Nm). The higher the figure, the more pulling power a car has from a standstill.

In a petrol or diesel engine, torque is produced through combustion. Fuel ignites, pushes the pistons, and rotates the crankshaft. It builds gradually and you need to be in the right gear at the right revs to access peak torque.

Diesel engines typically produce more torque at lower revs than petrol, which is why they tend to feel punchier from low speeds. 

It’s also why diesels have long been the go-to for towing and load-carrying.

How is torque measured?

Torque is measured using something called a dynamometer — or a dyno, if you want to sound like you know your stuff. The car runs on a set of rollers and the output is measured at the wheels, giving an accurate picture of real-world performance.

In the UK and most of Europe, torque is measured in Newton metres (Nm). If you're looking at American car specs, you might see lb-ft (pound-feet) instead. It's the same measurement, just a different unit.

Manufacturers quote the maximum torque their engine can produce, usually alongside the RPM (revolutions per minute) at which it's achieved; for example, 350Nm at 2,000rpm.

RPM is simply how many times the engine's crankshaft completes a full rotation in one minute, and in a petrol or diesel engine, peak torque is only available within a specific RPM range.

Electric motors, on the other hand, deliver maximum torque at 0 RPM  the moment they start moving. 

No rev range to chase, no waiting. 

That's the instant torque we mentioned earlier.

How does torque work?

Torque works by applying rotational force through the drivetrain to the wheels. In a petrol or diesel engine, the combustion process creates the force that rotates the crankshaft — which is then transferred through the gearbox and drivetrain to get the wheels turning.

Gears play a big role in how that torque is delivered. 

Lower gears multiply torque, giving you more pulling power at low speeds. Higher gears reduce torque but allow higher speeds. It's why you instinctively change down when pulling away sharply or overtaking; you're putting yourself in the best position to access the engine's torque.

It's also worth knowing that it's not just about how much torque a car has, but where in the rev range it's delivered. 

A wide, flat torque curve — meaning strong, consistent pull across a range of speeds — is far more useful in everyday driving than a narrow peak high up in the rev range.

In an EV, there's no gearbox to speak of. 

Torque is applied directly and instantly to the wheels, which is why the power delivery feels so linear and smooth — and why electric cars can feel deceptively quick without ever feeling aggressive.

How is torque produced?

In a combustion engine, torque is produced when fuel and air mix, ignite, and force the pistons down; which in turn rotates the crankshaft. The more cylinders an engine has, the more combustion events per revolution, which generally means more torque potential.

Turbochargers and superchargers increase torque by forcing more air into the combustion chamber, allowing more fuel to burn. It's why turbocharged engines can produce impressive torque figures despite being relatively small in size.

In an electric motor it works completely differently. 

Torque is produced through electromagnetism. An electrical current passes through coils, creating a magnetic field that rotates the motor shaft.

No combustion, no pistons, no crankshaft. The process is immediate and continuous, which is why an EV's torque is instant. There's no mechanical process that needs to build or warm up first.

But it’s worth noting battery capacity and motor size both influence how much torque an EV can produce and sustain.

How is torque different for EVs?

The key difference comes down to delivery. In a petrol or diesel engine, torque builds gradually and you need the engine at the right revs in the right gear to access peak power.

But in an electric motor? Maximum torque is available instantly, from 0 RPM, the moment you press the accelerator.

What that means in practice is a driving experience that feels fundamentally different.

There's no lag, no waiting for the power to arrive — just immediate, smooth acceleration.

It's particularly noticeable in everyday driving: pulling away from junctions, merging onto a dual carriageway, or overtaking. In situations where a petrol or diesel car might need a moment to respond, an EV will have already left them in their dust.

It's one of those things you have to experience to fully appreciate. 

And for many drivers, it's the moment electric driving stops being a consideration and starts being a preference.

Do hybrids get instant torque?

It depends entirely on the type of hybrid you're driving and the mode you're in.

• Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can be charged and driven in full EV mode, which means yes, when running on electric, you get instant torque
• Full hybrids can't be plugged in and charged, but they can still run in EV mode at lower speeds, so instant torque is still accessible in those moments
• Mild hybrids work differently. You can't charge them and they can't run on electric alone. The electric motor simply assists the combustion engine, which means enhanced torque and improved responsiveness, but not the full instant delivery you'd get from a pure EV

It's also worth noting that even in a PHEV or a full hybrid, once the battery is depleted, you're running on fuel only. So instant torque goes out the window until you're charged back up.

Are torque specifications important?

Honestly? It depends on you, the driver.

If instant response and pulling power matter to you behind the wheel, then torque specifications are worth paying attention to.  

If you're less fussed about how quickly the power arrives, they're unlikely to be a deciding factor.

It's also worth knowing that high torque doesn't automatically mean a better drive.  

A car with massive torque figures but a poorly balanced chassis can actually feel unpleasant (or even unsettling) to drive. The number on the spec sheet only tells part of the story.

Where it gets interesting is when you start comparing petrol or diesel against electric. 

Two cars with the same Nm figure can feel completely different depending on how and when that torque is delivered. Towing is where torque becomes particularly relevant. The more pulling power a vehicle has, the more capable it'll be when there's weight behind it.

For everyday driving, most modern cars have more than enough torque to never feel lacking.  

Is torque different to brake horsepower (BHP)?

Yes — and it's a distinction worth understanding, because the two are often mentioned together but they're measuring different things.

• BHP measures the actual power output of the engine. It's what keeps you going and determines your top speed
• Torque is the rotational force that gets you moving. It's what you feel when you pull away from a junction or put your foot down to overtake

A simple way to think about it is that torque gets you moving, horsepower keeps you going fast.

In practice, a car with high torque but modest BHP will feel strong and responsive at low speeds but may run out of steam at higher speeds. A car with high BHP but lower torque might feel less urgent off the line but come alive on a motorway.

For everyday driving, torque is what you notice most. It's the force driving every pull away, every overtake, every merge onto a dual carriageway. BHP becomes more relevant the faster you go.

In an EV, both figures tend to be strong. 

Instant torque combined with high power output is a big part of why performance electric cars can embarrass much more expensive combustion rivals off the line.

So, is torque worth thinking about?

Torque is one of those things that's easy to overlook on a spec sheet. But once you've experienced instant torque behind the wheel of an electric car, it's hard to go back.

The way an EV pulls away, responds, and delivers power isn't just a novelty. It's a fundamentally different (and for many drivers, better) way to drive. 

And it's one of the many reasons electric cars are becoming the lease of choice for drivers across the UK.