@iwillbite electric cars just drive the wheels directly from electric motors so there's no additional mechanism needed. in gas cars you ahve to turn the engine to start the explosion that drives the wheels, but the explosion is used to turn the engine for the next explosion to keep the process going.
@iwillbite@sun >when did they stop using that? Around the 50s They stopped using crank latter because it's hard to do and some people actually died by doing so (not joking). We should still be able of doing so today imo as a backup system in case, without the possibility of the crank latter actually starting spinning when the engine start to avoid killing anyone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EWDRHC2dzg
@mangeurdenuage@sun@iwillbite It is still possible to roll start a manual transmission equipped automobile. Just let the clutch out, get a friend to push it (or always park on a hill) and once moving a little bit pop the clutch. As soon as it starts be ready to either push the clutch back in or start driving.