EV throttle response

[69Mach390]

My 2024 4S is my 2nd EV. One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about EVs is instant power, effortless acceleration and great throttle response.

So much so that I’ve been saying for 5 years that I’d “probably never go back to a gas powered car for a daily driver.”

I recently sold one of my “toy” cars (2011 Mustang GT 6 speed supercharged) and replaced it with a 2020 Jaguar F type R convertible. Never had a convertible and love how it looks.

That said, one thing that shocks me every time I drive the Jag:

It’s definitely more responsive when I push the gas pedal. Significantly so. Even when my 4S is tuned and in 1st gear.

Full throttle? Yeah the Porsche is faster and immediately throws you back more violently. But at part throttle? The Jag just responds more quickly.

So maybe gas performance cars aren’t quite obsolete for me. But I do enjoy driving both! Just kinda surprised how Porsche programmed the part throttle response.

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[SoccerMan94043]

My 2024 4S is my 2nd EV. One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about EVs is instant power, effortless acceleration and great throttle response.

So much so that I’ve been saying for 5 years that I’d “probably never go back to a gas powered car for a daily driver.”

I recently sold one of my “toy” cars (2011 Mustang GT 6 speed supercharged) and replaced it with a 2020 Jaguar F type R convertible. Never had a convertible and love how it looks.

That said, one thing that shocks me every time I drive the Jag:

It’s definitely more responsive when I push the gas pedal. Significantly so. Even when my 4S is tuned and in 1st gear.

Full throttle? Yeah the Porsche is faster and immediately throws you back more violently. But at part throttle? The Jag just responds more quickly.

So maybe gas performance cars aren’t quite obsolete for me. But I do enjoy driving both! Just kinda surprised how Porsche programmed the part throttle response.

I find that in Sport and Sport Plus the throttle is MUCH more sensitive.

 

[babylou66]

Technologically, EV is infinitely more responsive...so long as the response has not been detuned. I had a Volvo EX30 and that sucker had explosive throttle response from tip in. I now have, until Monday, a Hyundai Ioniq 5N and the throttle response is more relaxed until you floor it. I preferred the EX30 tuning. I suppose I have fine ankle flexure motor skills!

 

[refazi]

MapEV and other tunes can help make that response pretty similar, here is how MapEVs website explains it:

Improved throttle response
The powertrain controller has a feature called “Anti-surge damping” or in simpler words – torque request filtering. It exists for two reasons – to provide refinement of the power delivery and protect the drivetrain from excessive lash.
Completely disabling the damping is not a good solution – resulting in jerky throttle behaviour and being potentially damaging to the powertrain due to excessive bucking. The controller contains a function, which is not calibrated and disabled from factory – “Filter deactivation with pre-tensioned drivetrain”. We enable and calibrate this function, which as long as there is sufficient forward torque on the powertrain allows bypassing the filtering whenever the driver performs sudden throttle movements.
For you this means much sharper and less delayed throttle response during spirited driving without affecting the carefully crafted refinement of the vehicle or placing undue stress on the powertrain.

 

[69Mach390]

MapEV and other tunes can help make that response pretty similar, here is how MapEVs website explains it:

I have the MapEV tune and drive in sport.

It definitely helped. But compared to my last car (Mach E GTPE) and my other car (f type R), the throttle response still seems sluggish.

I may be in the minority, but I love the really aggressive response. Porsche definitely tuned it to be less responsive on tip in.

It sometimes surprises you too if driving in normal and you give it half throttle or so, it’ll be a little sluggish then violently downshift to 1st. I wish it was more linear.

 

[refazi]

I guess it's time to upgrade to the Turbo S...

 

[refazi]

To expand on that, I’ve owned two 4S models—one brand new and one slightly used—and both exhibited a noticeable lag when the front motor kicks in. This hesitation is quite pronounced in the 4S compared to the CT4 (both gens), GTS .1, Turbo S .2 , or the Audi RS e-tron GT (.1), which don’t seem to share this characteristic. I suspect it’s either a specific software calibration or perhaps the car compensating for the power imbalance between the stronger rear motor and the front motor, resulting in that slight time delay.

 

[MrJones02]

I have the first gen turbo, and I also feel the throttle response isn't what it could be, even in sport.
I once drove a model 3 performance, and I instantly noticed that car was more responsive to the throttle input.

 

[Mr.Smith]

I have the MapEV tune and drive in sport.

It definitely helped. But compared to my last car (Mach E GTPE) and my other car (f type R), the throttle response still seems sluggish.

I may be in the minority, but I love the really aggressive response. Porsche definitely tuned it to be less responsive on tip in.

It sometimes surprises you too if driving in normal and you give it half throttle or so, it’ll be a little sluggish then violently downshift to 1st. I wish it was more linear.

The Audi Etron GT and Taycan do not have the typical EV throttle response and kick you mention. Even a Fiat 500e will have that kick up 20mph.

I almost believe Porsche tuned it this way to be more like traditional ICE

 

[tophamn]

The Audi Etron GT and Taycan do not have the typical EV throttle response and kick you mention. Even a Fiat 500e will have that kick up 20mph.

I almost believe Porsche tuned it this way to be more like traditional ICE

That's not my experience - the acceleration of my GTS is instant.

 

[tophamn]

I recently sold one of my “toy” cars (2011 Mustang GT 6 speed supercharged) and replaced it with a 2020 Jaguar F type R convertible....

The F-type R is supercharged, right? - no Turbo to spool up .

 

[DexD]

I've found that German cars in general, and Porsche in particular, have always employed a 'long throttle' philosophy, feeling pretty languid at part openings and requiring a longer push to access more power relative to other non- German brands. Personally i prefer it that way- easy modulation at low openings and speeds but full power there if i want it- BMW bikes also stand out in this regard, offering a much more analogue and refined part- throttle experience vs most others

 

[69Mach390]

That's not my experience - the acceleration of my GTS is instant.

It’s not slow by any means……

It’s just less responsive than other cars I drive, which is surprising considering my tuned 4S runs a 10.9 at 129 mph in the 1/4 mile.

To be clear I’m only talking about part throttle responsiveness. At full throttle is absurdly fast.

At part throttle it just feels like it’s lacking torque. You really have to put your foot down.

 

[69Mach390]

The F-type R is supercharged, right? - no Turbo to spool up .

Yeah, 5.0 v8 supercharged with 550 hp and 8 speed auto. You barely touch the throttle in any gear and it throws you back.

I just would expect my 720 hp EV to have more instant response. It’s absolutely limited by how Porsche programmed it.

To be fair, I’m comparing it to two vehicles that people complain about the opposite thing- that the throttle is too sensitive.

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