Seamless Gearboxes (aka blowing in the shifts)

[autogyro]

Formula E default cars have a two speed Hewland gearbox driven by an EM.
I believe new generation electricaly operated gearbox's and energy recovery systems combined is the future.
Using an EM from stationary is not ideal but better than using an IC engine with some form of slip system.
A modern gearbox for EVs would have a range of ratios controlled to be ideal for a very low start ratio and would give sweet spot motor efficient rpm for cruise.
Hybrid powertrains should use electric drive from stationary.

[machin]

I wish you would sort out your high gears from your lows though.

I try to avoid the use of the term "high" and "low" because that is confusing, since for example a 5th gear has a lower ratio than 1st gear. That's why I have referred to them as:

"shorter" (large ratio), e.g. a typical first gear with a ratio of 3.5:1, and
"longer" (small ratio), e.g. a typical 4th gear with a ratio of 1.2:1

I thought that was less confusing that way, sorry if you were still confused

[andylaurence]

Wow! I dip out of this thread for a few days and it all goes to pot. I think the disagreement revolves around a difference in how the two camps define it. If you define it as something that can output more torque than goes in, then a slipping clutch is not one. If you define it as something that can output a differing speed to the input, then it is one. As has already been said, the slipping clutch allows the engine to be put into a speed range where it outputs more torque, therefore the output torque from the clutch is greater than would be possible if it were locked, but only because the input torque to the clutch is greater than it would otherwise be for that rotational speed.