I Drove Toyota's Manual Transmission For EVs. It's Much More Fun Than You Think

I love manual transmissions. If this car ever comes state side, you bet that I’m at least going to test-drive it. No promises on actually buying it however, I still feel like practicality is king.

But I think gears are an obvious way to improve performance of motors, and I’m well accustomed to driving manual right now. So I might as well take advantage of my skills to get a better performing and/or cheaper car in the long run.

But only that: if its practical. I’m not one to buy a manual transmission just for fun. I do it because its cheaper to produce and cheaper to maintain.

EDIT:

“We also changed the control program of the electric motor,” another engineer, Tatsuya Iwamura, tells us before we go out on the Shimoyama test track. “You will feel like you are driving a car with a manual transmission.”

Coupled with artificial engine noise delivered through the car speakers, it replicates the experience of driving an ICE car in an EV—and it does this so well you might forget what’s under your hood.

Yeah, not liking it. Lol. But hey, maybe I can dream of a real manual transmission controlling a 2-gear or 3-gear EV in the future.

ChaoticNeutralCzech,

The only practical use is driving school that wants to go all-electric, or someone who needs to keep the habit.

Diplomjodler,

I guess 100 years ago, the people who thought of this would have built a car that occasionally shits in the street.

ladicius,

On point. Thanks.

ChaoticNeutralCzech,

Sure, enjoy it. But there is usually no transmission in EVs at all because it’s not needed so the “easier to maintain” argument makes no sense then. This one is just simulated in software.

dragontamer,

But there is usually no transmission in EVs at all because it’s not needed

Porsche’s Tycan says otherwise.

EVs have a very broad range of usable RPMs, including down to 0RPM. However, there’s still a limited range of RPMs in practice, and most EVs seem to be losing power in practice above 40mph. Porsche solves that with a 2-gear system. I’d be curious how future motors can be designed if they relied upon a gearbox, rather than trying to broadly handle all RPMs from 0mph to 100mph.

ChaoticNeutralCzech,

I said usually

XTL,

Also, this is some Toyota.

dragontamer,

All EVs have weaker engines at high RPM because of their lack of gearboxes.

Well, all of them except the Tycan. EV drivers deciding not to care about the problem is just the mind trick marketers have played on them.

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