Toyota is reportedly developing a new type of manual transmission specifically designed for electric vehicles. Because of how electric motors generate torque and power, EVs don't really need to be equipped with transmissions. Toyota is aiming to change that by giving driving enthusiasts that "connected" feel of driving with a manual gearbox.
Toyota recently filed eight new patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office that describe a transmission method aimed at drivers who are accustomed to or are enthusiastic about manual transmissions. The patents collectively offer an image of an electric vehicle with manual gearbox capability through the use of advanced engineering techniques and software.
In its patents, Toyota is seemingly planning for its future electric vehicles to be available in both automatic and manual driving modes. The company is planning to integrate an H-pattern manual with inputs for a "pseudo-clutch" and "pseudo-shifter."
The patents also describe a third pedal with a "pedal response force generator" that vibrates to recreate the sense of a clutch dragging on a flywheel. The system can even simulate the car stalling, giving its future vehicles the feel of having an actual manual gearbox.
Simulating a manual gearbox may not make a lot of sense for traditional gas-powered vehicles. However, this is an entirely different story with EVs. Manual transmissions are typically much more fuel-efficient than automatic transmissions, and they are also easier and cheaper to build. With an EV, fuel efficiency is no longer an issue.
In terms of costs, it isn't yet clear if Toyota's fake manual transmission will be cheaper to produce. It also isn't clear if the technology would give drivers more control over their EVs.
Toyota claims that its new patented transmission system will let its customers enjoy the feeling of driving a manual transmission vehicle even if they are driving an EV. The company said it wants to offer driving enthusiasts the sensation of driving a manual without the disadvantages and hassle related to operating one.
Due to shifting market needs and the enhanced efficiency of torque-converter automatics, three-pedal manual gearboxes have been less common in recent years. Last year, only around 5% of passenger vehicles sold in countries such as the U.S. and Canada were manual, down from about 30% two decades ago.
The existence of intellectual-property filings and patents does not ensure that a certain design or technology would be put into production. However, the submissions do imply that Toyota is looking into the possibilities of broader uses.
Only a few electric vehicles have been equipped with manual gearboxes in the past. These vehicles include the Opel Manta GSe Elektromod, the Ford Mustang Lithium concept, and the Jeep Wrangler Magneto.
