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A top-view shot of a 2024 Toyota MR2 concept
Mass electrification in the automotive world could mean that cars as we know them are on their way to extinction. While many car companies are keeping the internal combustion engine around or resorting to alternative fuels with a smaller carbon footprint, automotive giant, Toyota, and its luxury arm, Lexus are working on a revolutionary technology that would enable the next-generation car enthusiasts to shift the gears themselves in the electrified era. What is Toyota and Lexus’ “manual” transmission, and can it really deliver similar thrills to a traditional, manual-equipped gas-powered car?
The Manual Transmission Might Get A Second Chance In EVs
a front 3/4 shot of an orange 2022 Toyota MR2 Concept study
It may sound absurd, but the sad truth is manual transmissions are being gradually phased out. With modern automatics being much more refined and quicker, and the vast majority of EVs not needing to rely on multiple gear ratios, the manual transmission doesn’t make much sense in the age of electrification, at least on paper.
With that said, earlier this year, Toyota filed patents for a new type of manual transmission, developed for use in electric vehicles. The first confirmation of Toyota and Lexus’ “EV manual transmission” was found in BZ forums, under Patent 20220041155A1. From what we have learned so far, it isn’t a transmission in the normal sense, but rather a controller that is calibrated to control torque output from the electric motor.
The manual gearbox for EVs was modeled after a true internal combustion vehicle, equipped with a manual transmission in order to properly calculate and modulate the torque output depending on the different “gear ratios”. According to the patent description, Toyota’s manual transmission will be able to simulate a shift reaction force when the driver is using the “shifter”.
Naturally, the emulation of a manual transmission will limit the car’s top speed per gear just like in an internal combustion-powered vehicle, equipped with a traditional stick shift. The higher the gear, the slower the acceleration. However, having more gears would increase the top speed of an EV, which in terms of performance, is where electric vehicles fall behind the most compared to their ICE-powered counterparts.
This will potentially improve efficiency at high speeds as opposed to EVs that rely on a single-speed or a two-speed automatic transmission, in addition to greatly improving the top speed of fully-electric models. For example, a Jaguar I-Pace P400 will no longer top out at 125 mph (200 km/h), but more like 155 mph (250 km/h).
The Manual For EVs Will Include A Clutch Feedback
Toyota’s patent for an EV manual includes a lot of “pseudo” prefixes in its description, regarding the “clutch”, “shifter”, and other “part” of the drivetrain. While so far, it all sounds like a computer game, Toyota says the clutch will feature a shaker plate that would transmit vibrations to the clutch and by extension, the driver’s left leg.
Where Can We See Toyota And Lexus’ Manual Transmission For EVs?
a shot of Toyota and Lexus concept studies from 2022
Last December, Toyota revealed 15 concept models, showcasing not just its future design language, but also the production models we should expect in the coming years. The Toyota BZ4X was the first of the concept studies to make it to production, and we saw two sports car concepts, one of which was the Lexus LFA successor and the other one, a mid-engine model, believed to be the next Toyota MR2.
The manual transmission is associated with driver enjoyment as are sports cars, so it is logical that the first place we are going to see this new “EV manual transmission” is going to be in the upcoming LFA and MR2 successors. Of course, Toyota and Lexus would not bother going through all the trouble designing such a system just to incorporate it in two of its many models.
The video above shows onboard footage of a Lexus UX300e, equipped with the “manual”. While this may simply be a test mule, the system will, likely, be incorporated into many of the Japanese company’s more mainstream models.
Proper Driver Engagement Or Just Another Gimmick?
There’s no denying that, pound-for-pound, EVs are almost unbeatable when it comes to off-the-line acceleration. Having peak torque from the get-go and, more often than not, relying on only a single “gear” ratio, allows for impressive 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) times. While Toyota’s “manual” transmission aims to add a level of engagement, absent from many modern vehicles, electric and ICE-powered alike, it will not improve the acceleration of EVs.
If anything, it will do the opposite, since it’s forcibly reducing the output of electric motors for the sake of driver enjoyment. Higher top speed is one thing that might be gained from the system, but there are only so many places where you can go flat out. Toyota and Lexus’ efforts in making EVs more engaging are to be commended, but at this point, the most important thing is to refine the system to a degree where it doesn’t feel like a computer simulation that’s forcibly reducing power from an otherwise potent EV powertrain.
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