IF we are watching a debate between electric and traditional vehicles on which will make drivers happier, physics itself may have already chosen a winner.
While enthusiasts have long associated the raw emotion of internal combustion engines with superior driving dynamics, the fundamental physics and structural advantages of electric vehicle design are revolutionising vehicle dynamics in ways that traditional powertrains cannot match.
At the core of this transformation is the de-facto industry standard "skateboard" platform architecture, where the battery pack integration creates multiple compounding advantages.
Unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which suffer from significant height differentials in their center of gravity between the engine and non-engine ends, EVs maintain a remarkably consistent CoG height throughout their length.
This uniformity fundamentally simplifies suspension tuning and enables more predictable handling characteristics.
To add to that, the battery pack integration does more than just lower the center of gravity.
It actually enhances structural rigidity across the entire chassis, leading to reduced chassis flex during dynamic maneuvers and providing a superior platform for suspension tuning.
You might be surprised to learn that Chinese manufacturers have been particularly adept at exploiting these inherent advantages, demonstrating that the combination of ride comfort and handling precision isn't a compromise but rather a natural outcome of EV architecture.
Recent experience with the Proton e.MAS7, Neta X, X-Peng G6 and most recently the very large Leapmotor C10 really highlights the advantage physics has bestowed on electric cars.
Note that all the vehicles I mentioned are tall SUVs or Crossovers, and not sporty sedans.
The physics advantages manifest in several critical ways.
The more uniform center of gravity height across the wheelbase, typically approaching a 50:50 distribution, results in a reduced polar moment of inertia. Think of a figure skater spinning on ice.
When they start their spin with their arms stretched out wide, they spin slowly. But when they pull their arms in close to their body, they spin much faster - even though they haven't used any extra energy.
This happens because they've brought their weight closer to the center of their spin.Now imagine two cars that weigh exactly the same.
The first car has its heaviest parts (like the engine) spread out far from the center - some at the front, some at the back, kind of like the skater with their arms out.
The second car has all its heavy parts (like the battery) packed tightly in the middle and low down - like the skater with their arms pulled in.
When you try to turn these cars quickly, the first car will resist the change in direction more - it wants to keep going straight, like trying to redirect a long truck.
The second car will turn more willingly because its weight is concentrated in the middle, like pivoting a compact box. This is what we mean when we talk about polar moment of inertia - it's simply how much a car "resists" changing its direction based on where its weight is located.
This is why EVs can feel more agile despite often weighing more than regular cars - their weight is packed tightly in the middle and low down, like that skater with their arms pulled in, ready to spin.
This decreased rotational inertia fundamentally changes how EVs respond to directional inputs. The centralised mass creates more predictable weight transfer during cornering and significantly reduces pitch during acceleration and braking, leading to better balanced roll couples front to rear.
This architecture allows suspension engineers to break free from traditional constraints. The lower and more centralized mass distribution permits the use of softer spring rates while maintaining handling precision - a combination that would be impossible in ICE vehicles.
This is achieved through reduced roll moment due to the lower CoG and decreased polar moment of inertia requiring less rotational control.
The result is more consistent vertical load on tires and better inherent resistance to body roll.Modern EV suspension tuning capitalizes on these advantages through progressive damping characteristics.
Engineers can implement softer response to small inputs for ride comfort while maintaining sufficient control for larger body movements.
Perhaps most significantly, the architecture requires less aggressive anti-roll bar requirements, allowing for more similar spring rates front and rear.
In practical application, these physics-based advantages translate to sophisticated handling characteristics: a compliant primary ride quality with controlled secondary ride movements, high overall precision despite a slight initial turn-in delay, and progressive breakaway characteristics.
The enhanced stability during rapid direction changes and superior bump absorption during cornering aren't just engineering achievements - they're the natural outcomes of the EV's fundamental architecture.
However, the physics advantages of EVs aren't without their challenges. The most significant hurdle remains the sheer mass of current battery technology.
While an EV's weight is ideally positioned, physics still dictates that a heavier vehicle requires more energy to accelerate, brake, and change direction.
A typical EV can weigh 20-30 per cent more than its ICE counterpart, which increases the loads on tires, brakes, and suspension components during dynamic maneuvers.
This additional mass becomes particularly noticeable in rapid transitions, like slalom maneuvers or quick left-right direction changes.
While the lower center of gravity helps manage this weight, the laws of momentum still apply - more mass means more energy is required to initiate and arrest movement. This can manifest as increased tire wear during aggressive driving and potentially reduced ultimate cornering speeds compared to lighter ICE vehicles with similar power outputs.
The additional weight does mean it is safer to enter corners at slightly lower speeds than in an ICE but thanks to the accuracy and predictability of EVs you can power out really early.
The weight penalty also creates unique challenges for suspension tuning.
While the lower centre of gravity allows for softer springs, the higher overall mass often requires more sophisticated damping solutions to control body movement, particularly during high-speed compression events like hitting a sharp bump while cornering.
Some manufacturers have turned to active suspension systems to manage these forces, adding further complexity and weight to the vehicle.
Additionally, the consistent weight distribution of EVs, while generally advantageous, can make it harder to tune in certain desirable handling characteristics that some drivers enjoy, such as the ability to adjust the car's attitude with throttle inputs mid-corner - a characteristic that the weight transfer properties of front-engine, rear-wheel-drive ICE vehicles naturally provide.
It is true that due to the all the advantages we've talked about here, EVs are stable and highly predictable under heavy acceleration, which may be translated as being a bit sterile, mid corner throttle inputs are not as dramatic anymore.
For performance driving, the implications are profound. The uniform mass distribution and structural rigidity of the skateboard platform allow for suspension tuning that would be physically impossible to achieve in traditional ICE vehicles.
While enthusiasts may miss the visceral roar of a combustion engine, the handling capabilities enabled by EV architecture represent a significant advancement in vehicle dynamics.
As battery technology continues to evolve and vehicles become lighter, these inherent physical advantages will only become more pronounced.
The future of performance driving isn't just electric – it's rooted in fundamental physics that no amount of traditional engineering can overcome.
While the internal combustion engine gave us a century of thrilling driving experiences, the laws of physics favor a different approach. The question isn't whether EVs will match traditional performance cars - it's how quickly they'll surpass them.
This is why BMW's M Division is so keen to embrace Electric Power for the enthusiasts. Let the good times roll.