Toyota continues development of manual transmission simulation for electric vehicles
Japanese automotive giant Toyota is reportedly continuing the development of manual transmission technology for electric vehicles. This technology is designed to provide a driving sensation similar to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles equipped with manual transmissions.
According to patent documents cited by Drive on Monday, the system features a clutch pedal and an H-pattern gear shifter within an electric vehicle. The technology even allows the car to experience an ‘engine stall’ or breakdown if the driver performs gear shifts that are inappropriate for the driving conditions. If an incorrect shift occurs, the vehicle’s computer will cut the electric motor’s torque and simultaneously activate the brakes to mimic the effect of an engine stalling in a conventional manual car.
Furthermore, the patent indicates that Toyota is also attempting to replicate other characteristics of manual cars, such as the jolt experienced when using an incorrect gear at low revolutions, as well as the vehicle’s tendency to roll backwards on an incline if the driver does not operate the clutch correctly.
Development of this technology has been underway for several years. Toyota first introduced a prototype of this system in the Lexus UX300e electric vehicle in 2022. At that time, the vehicle was also equipped with various synthetic engine sound options to further enhance the driving experience.
However, the path to mass production still faces several challenges. Lexus Assistant Chief Engineer, Yasuyuki Terada, previously revealed that regulation remains one of the unresolved hurdles. According to Terada, certain countries, such as Japan, have specific driving licences required for manual transmission vehicles.
The latest patent also shows several additional safety features. The vehicle’s computer can assess the driver’s skill level and adjust the intervention of assistance systems, such as hill hold assist. Novice drivers can receive full assistance in various situations, while experienced drivers will only receive intervention under specific conditions. Toyota is even considering the inclusion of a launch control mode, which would allow drivers to simulate aggressive clutch release to achieve faster acceleration from a standstill.
This technology is being developed to maintain the driver engagement that has long been a hallmark of high-performance internal combustion engine cars, even when using an electric powertrain. Nevertheless, there is currently no certainty as to when or if Toyota will bring these features to mass-production models.