Ford Explores Manual Shifters for EV Cars

Ford recently submitted a patent for an innovative manual gear shifter tailored to electric cars, which was published on March 20th. This patent details a “Gear Shift Assembly for Electric Vehicles,” designed to emulate the sensation of a conventional stick shift, even though it doesn’t physically change gears in these vehicles.

This setup replaces traditional mechanical connections with actuators and an electronic power controller, allowing adjustments to motor output as if changing simulated gears while driving. Vibration and resistance in the lever base, provided by force feedback motors, replicate the sensation of gear shifting found in gasoline-powered cars. Ford’s decision mirrors Hyundai’s work on the Ioniq 5 N and Toyota’s simulations with stick prototypes in the Lexus RZ. Even though electric vehicles don’t require gears, this technology aims to heighten driver involvement, particularly for enthusiasts who miss the tactile experience of driving a manual transmission.

As I pen this down, Ford hasn’t shared any concrete details about when this technology might find its way into their vehicle models. However, with the patent filing as recent as 2023, the idea could hint at a future where electric vehicles (EVs) capture the hearts of manual transmission enthusiasts – all without the traditional stalls.

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