Glossary / General

power curve

8 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

A power curve is how strong the car feels over time as you accelerate. Even if an EV starts strong, the car may reduce or shape that strength to keep things smooth and controlled.

Technical Definition

A power curve describes how an engine or motor’s power output changes as you press the accelerator and as speed/load changes. The hosts contrast EVs’ immediate torque with how the system can still “ratchet down” output to shape the overall feel and traction.

Hear It Discussed

"[1454.5s] Is it an automatic transmission? [1456.0s] Where's the power curve? [1457.3s] Does it, you know, make torque down low like a diesel?"
Is The 2027 R2 Going To Make Or Break Rivian? | Ep. 342 TFL Car Chat 24:16

"And the old TRX had this really nice power curve, but the top end sort of fell off because it's ability to breathe. So they swapped in the valve train from the red eye and that let the Hellcat..."
S3, E100 - Have You Heard? Truck News! The Truck Show Podcast 33:16

"we tend to smooth the horsepower curve out and even if we haven't made any more peak our average seems to be better"
162: The Real Science Behind Engine Airflow & Performance Tuned In 37:50