The manual transmission is quickly becoming a more obscure option among new cars, but does it have a place in electric cars? A new video from Engineering Explained looks at the possibility of manual gearboxes shifting power in electric vehicles and there are two major questions: is it possible? Additionally, is it even logical?
Foremost, yes, it’s definitely possible for an electric car to feature a manual transmission. Although there’s really no place for a clutch with an electric powertrain, it certainly can be done, per the video’s explanation. Although, it quickly leads to the second, and more important, question.
It’s not very logical. The efficiency losses as electric power travels through a traditional drivetrain are not favorable. Electric cars are most efficient when the powertrain is connected directly to the driven wheels. Furthermore, most cars do not accelerate past 100 mph in most scenarios. This makes a single-gear setup optimal for electric cars.
Now, the more interesting part is that it could still be done. Although it’s not exactly logical, automakers like General Motors could still swing a manual transmission for an enthusiast-focused electric car. Beyond that, the manual transmission doesn’t really have a place with electric cars.
Comments
Strange article, as a shifting gearbox has no added value at all in electric vehicles because 100% of torque is available from 0 rpm.
However, if people really would like to shift, it could be linked to an electronic unit which steers the torque and power curves in the electric motor, a bit like old tramways and trains had to steer the torque/amps when starting from 0 mph and shifted the electromagnets up… ;).
No RPM sound. No torque curve no exhaust sound, no reason to shift.
To shift an electric is about as useless as the paddle shifters on my Malibu.
The only thing shifting an electric would do is slow it down.
The magic of a manual is to get the gear change at the right point of the rev to match the torque curve by timing your hand and foot at the right time to make it all happen.
They may make faster electric cars but they lose all the things that give you the feel of the machine.
Take any old sports car and it touches all your senses. Electric is just transportation no matter how fast it is.
Rush would never write Red Barchetta about a Tessa. Rush nailed it as to what it is all about.
Another good idea would be to have a VHS tape player attached to all I phones. Dumb thought and article!