“Manual transmissions aren’t for everyone, but plenty of people still prefer them.” The Verge aptly expresses the timeless appeal of the stick shift a driving sensation that brings man and machine together in a way contemporary automatics appear to have forgotten. Yet with electric vehicles (EVs) taking over the roads with their smooth single speed motors, the hand/eye coordination required to dig through gears appears doomed for oblivion. Ford disagrees.
Taking a bold step in innovation and tradition, Ford has patented a simulated manual gear shifter specifically with EVs in mind. This is not just any gearbox; it’s a high-tech techno-miracle that combines haptic feedback and electronic actuators to mimic the action of shifting gears. The patent, with the fitting title “Shifter Assembly for Electric Vehicle,” illustrates a system that would be able to replicate sequential and H-pattern gear arrangements, providing drivers with a customized and interactive experience.
The part of this concept that is particularly noteworthy is how flexible it is. Ford’s implementation has a “virtual pathway,” so the travel of the shifter can be electronically specified to replicate a variety of different patterns of gears. Whether you’re nostalgic for a classic four speed or eager to try a seven speed setup, the system could accommodate your preferences. As InsideEVs explains, “Small motors are built into the base that provide force feedback through the lever,” allowing the stick to vibrate and resist in a manner similar to old mechanical linkages.
But Ford doesn’t stop there. The patent also discusses using haptics to make it even more realistic. Consider the stick shuddering like a V8 engine idling or providing resistance similar to struggling to roll a recalcitrant gear on an old truck. This type of touch feedback might make the sanitized driving experience of EVs a whole lot more primal. As The Drive puts it, “It’s not hard to imagine a simulated stick in a future electric Mustang that lets you select the number of gears, the position of reverse, the degree of force required to move the lever and engage a ‘gear,’ and the amount of buzziness, all through a menu of sliders in the car’s infotainment screen.”
Ford is not the only one. Car manufacturers such as Hyundai and Toyota are also trying to bring classic driving experience into their EVs. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N includes simulated paddle shifters, whereas Toyota has already created prototypes that include a simulated stick shift and clutch, as well as even stalling. These developments point to an increasing trend: bringing EVs up to speed in terms of fun to drive, just like their internal combustion counterparts.
The applications of Ford’s patent go beyond nostalgia. With a simulated manual transmission, Ford could sell to a group of car enthusiasts who have been resistant to EVs. As MSN acknowledges, “Whether it ultimately comes to fruition is anyone’s guess, but it could be a way to entice traditional enthusiasts into the EV world.” For those that learned how to drive a stick as a kid, this tech offers an opportunity to relive those moments in an environmentally friendly, electric future.
By the way, this isn’t the first time Ford tried combining manual transmissions and EVs. It also introduced in 2019 the Mustang Lithium, an all electric single prototype car sporting a six-speed manual gearbox. Although the car itself was single for SEMA, it marked Ford’s adherence to holding onto the manual, hands-on aspect of driving even in the current age of electrification. The Verge characterized the Mustang Lithium as “a true Frankenstein’s monster of a car,” with the ability to produce more than 900 horsepower from its 800-volt battery.
Of course, a practical application for a simulation manual in EVs is debatable. Some contend EVs, with instant torque and no gears, simply don’t require such systems. As InsideEVs wryly observes, “Presumably, that makes your EV slower since output is interrupted, but again, that’s not the point.” The real benefit is driver involvement a quality few EVs can compare to traditional sports cars like the Mazda Miata.
For the time being, Ford’s patent remains just that a patent. There is no assurance the virtual shifter will be included in production cars. But the idea is part of Ford’s overall strategy to innovate in the EV segment. As The Drive puts it, “It’d be fair to expect Ford to bring some kind of tactile fake manual to its cars, whether that takes a shape more similar to what Hyundai’s chosen to do with the Ioniq 5 N and its paddles or something even more old-school like we see here.”
Whether or not such technology is out there, it’s a fascinating marriage of heritage and futurism. By redesigning the manual transmission for the electric age, Ford is raising the question of whether EVs must trade driving pleasure for gas mileage. For car enthusiasts who cherish their vehicles, this is maybe the best of both worlds a way of reaching into the future without forsaking the past.
