Ford has patented a mock-up of a manual gear shifter for electric cars
Electric cars accelerate instantly and don't require shifting gears. But Ford decided that was too boring and patented a manual gearbox lever for EVs. It doesn't change the actual gear ratios, but it creates the illusion of shifting gears for old-school driving enthusiasts.
Here's What We Know
The patent, titled"Shifter Assembly For Electric Vehicle," published on 20 March, describes a classic gearbox lever that attaches to the floor as if in an old Ford Mustang. But instead of connecting to a manual transmission, it simply transmits signals to an electronic controller that varies engine torque. That is, the driver moves the lever as if shifting gears, and the electronics simulate pauses in power to create the feel of a manual transmission of a car with an internal combustion engine.
Schematic of a mechanical transmission simulator for electric cars from the patent documents. Illustration: Ford
The idea is not new: Hyundai has already realised a similar effect in the Ioniq 5 N using paddles, and Toyota is testing an electric car with a clutch simulator and even the ability to stall. However, Ford has gone the other way - small motors are built into the base of the shifter, which add resistance when shifting "gears" for a full sensation.
For now, it's just a patent. It was originally filed for 2023, so Ford has been thinking about this for a while. Whether this idea will make it to production cars is unknown.
Source: InsideEVs
