All EVs have automatic transmission… but Toyota begs to differ
How about manual gear-shifting?
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili(show all)Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
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Toyota’s idea
Yep, the carmaker is flirting with manual transmission and a clutch for… EVs?!
At least that’s the info we got from a series of patents filed to theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office(USPTO), and unearthed byBZ Forums.
Let’s take a closer look at the latest filing, published on the February 10, 2022:
The abstract reads:
Okay, I’m no engineer but here’s what I understand:
But given that the prefix “pseudo-” is used so much, I’m led to believe that this controller is more a symbolic function than a performance-based one. In other words, it’s all about the nostalgia of manual gear-shifting.
As much as I find it unlikely for a company to invest money on basically useless tech, I get it. Dressing the new with the familiarity of the old is a proven marketing technique.
Let’s not forget that Ford createda petrol-scented perfumefor those who wanna go electric, but miss the ol’ scent of gasoline too much.
Under this light, Toyota’s EV gear stick patent actually makes sense.
