Is a shifting transmission really necessary?

[Hutch]

My team didn't do shifting this year - instead, we went the way of custom gearboxes and a 6 motor drive train. That was great and all, but it drew a LOT of current (over 100 amps at times or so I was told) and it was just two less motors for us to use elsewhere.

Shifting would have allowed us to have the torque when we needed it and the speed when we wanted it, without all the motors and wastefulness of the 6 motor drive train. And shifting doesn't add any driving headache (you just have current sensors and at some threshold auto shift up or down) so if you have the resources, I don't see why you wouldn't want to strive for more.

Not to mention what a great learning experience it is to help design and manufacture one...