# Compare a traditional combustion engine to an electric motor
**URL:** https://community.electricforum.com/t/compare-a-traditional-combustion-engine-to-an-electric-motor/5869
**Category:** EV Small Talk
**Created:** [March 25, 2016, 10:40am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/compare-a-traditional-combustion-engine-to-an-electric-motor/5869 "2016-03-25T10:40:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@EvForum](https://community.electricforum.com/u/EvForum)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2016, 10:40am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/compare-a-traditional-combustion-engine-to-an-electric-motor/5869/1 "2016-03-25T10:40:26Z")
While many of us know what electric cars are, how many of us have actually compared efficiency, power, gearbox ratios and moving parts between these two very different forms of power?
[B]Average efficiency[/B]
An electric motor is said to be around 90% efficient whereas a combustion engine is anywhere between 25% and 35%.
[B]Maximum power[/B]
An electric car its maximum power as soon as you put the pedal down while a combustion engine will reach maximum power at high speed.
[B]Multi ratio gearbox required[/B]
It is very rarely you will require a multi ratio gearbox for an electric vehicle but all combustion engines need one.
[B]Number of moving parts[/B]
There are only a maximum of three moving parts in the electric motor compared in excess of 130 in a combustion engine.
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### Author:  [@Greendriver](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Greendriver)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/compare-a-traditional-combustion-engine-to-an-electric-motor/5869/2 "2016-03-26T04:24:38Z")
Surely the difference in the number of moving parts must have a significant impact upon maintenance costs?
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### Author:  [@ATLjunkcars](https://community.electricforum.com/u/ATLjunkcars)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/compare-a-traditional-combustion-engine-to-an-electric-motor/5869/3 "2016-03-28T05:59:13Z")
All those specs and stats are for a logical society. If we evolve into a society that makes decisions based on logic and reason, the last gas engine will be made that day.
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### Author:  [@EvForum](https://community.electricforum.com/u/EvForum)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/compare-a-traditional-combustion-engine-to-an-electric-motor/5869/4 "2016-03-28T06:48:15Z")
Hi ATLjunkcars
How do you think this will all develop in the future?