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Actually not quite the case that electric motors don't require a gearbox. They are at their best when stalled (Maximum torque at 0 RPM) but after a certain speed, efficiency falls off. If that is actually going to matter in a real world EV when they get more mainstream and start getting away from the (Largely Tesla inspired) sub 4 second 0 to 100KMH times is another question. If you could gear a real world family hauler EV (Say a size equivalent to a Sorento/Kluger/Pathfinder sized SUV, as the current replacement for a Falcon wagon 20 years ago) so that when pressed it can do say, 6 seconds 0 to 100KMH, and still be in a good RPM range at 110KMH, then maybe they don't need a gearbox, but there has been talk around for ages about two speed gearsets for EVs to give both the current EV party trick of headrest smashing acceleration from a standstill plus efficient operation at higher cruising speeds that you might find in Germany for instance.
I might be anti "Autonomous" or semi autonomous cars as they currently exist, but I am not anti EV. Give the batteries another generation or two of development and some catch up of charging infrastructure and they are going to become pretty compelling for most sensible uses. Aside from current price they probably are compelling right now for most commuter use. If I did not regularly need long range and towing capacity (If I was just commuting for work with my current 140KM round trip) they would be pretty attractive to me even now and would certainly be so for my wifes 40KM round trip.
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