How open-minded are you feeling today? Pretty open? I hope so, because what I’m going to propose here will require that openness. But I think the end result will be worth it, because it could allow you to see an entire category of car in a whole new light. What if – and, again, I’m calling on your openness here – what if all-electric cars with one-speed transmissions are actually manual transmission cars?
Take a moment. Breathe. Just pause before responding, because I think you need to hear this out. Let’s just look at the facts: because of the nature of electric motors, and how they can produce all of their torque from zero RPM and up, they don’t really need the sorts of multi-speed transmissions that combustion-engine cars use. Generally, they have transmissions with one ratio, like, for example, the Tesla Model 3, which has a gearbox with a 9.03:1 ratio.
A Hyundai Ioniq 6 has a single-speed transmission with a gear ratio of 2.263:1. A Volkswagen ID4’s one-gear transmission has a ratio of 2.96:1, and so on, you get the idea. Now, you could think of these one-gear transmissions as automatic transmissions, because you put them in D and then never have to think about them again, at least not until you want to stop or go backward.
But! The whole point of an automatic transmission is that it automatically changes the gears – that’s the whole point of an automatic transmission – and in the case of these EV one-speed transmissions, they are not doing that, because there are no gears to shift into. They literally can’t change gears.
A CVT has no gears, technically, but there are computers and mechanisms still changing gear ratios automatically – that’s why a gearless CVT is still an automatic, because some force other than the driver is deciding to change the gear ratios.
Now, what if we think of these one-speed transmissions as manual transmissions? You are manually are putting the car into gear, and while you may be doing that by pushing a button or sliding a finger on some silly touchscreen control or moving some little lever on the steering column, it is still a physical, manual action that starts the process for the car to engage the motor to the gearbox. The car didn’t do this on its own; you made the decision, and you took the action to make it happen.
Now, there’s no clutch, of course, but there have been manual transmissions with automatic clutches before; think about the Volkswagen AutoStick (also called the Sportamatic when bolted into a Porsche)– that was a manual transmission with an automatic clutch, but you still had to shift it.
I made a whole video about that transmission way back:
Anyway, nobody would consider that an actually automatic transmission: it’s a manual, with an automatic clutch.
I think we can look at these EV transmissions in a similar way. The only reason we’re not shifting gears on them is because there are no more gears to shift into. But that shouldn’t exclude it from manual transmission status! Let’s say you have an old car with a screwed up transmission where only second gear works. If you got in that car, put it in second gear, and drove, that’s the same experience you’d have in an EV, getting in putting it in D, and driving, at least in terms of the gear-shifting actions you take.
So, all I’m saying is that we should be free to think of nearly all EVs as having one-speed, clutchless, manual transmissions. Is there a good reason for this? No. No, there isn’t. In fact, it’s pretty stupid, if we’re honest. But it somehow feels more fun. Think about how much better it’ll feel when you end up owning some EV, but you can somehow satiate your old-school gearhead urges by reminding yourself that at least you still drive a manual.
A one-speed manual with no clutch you never have to shift and feels for all the world like an automatic. But still a manual.
Because, again, in these one-speed transmissions, the driver still chooses what gear to go into. Always.
That’s a manual transmission.
Okay, now you can call me an idiot in the comments, or – and I encourage you to at least consider this plan – join me. This way, we can keep manual transmissions alive! Sort of.
Wow.
I can’t speak for all EV motor assemblies, but the the ones I dealt with have an integrated torque converter. This would make it more like an automatic (fluid-driven) than a manual transmission. I guess it depends on which vehicle you’re discussing.
ND/Total Crackpipe…this makes absolutely zero sense at all.
A manual is a car w/ a stick and a clutch and ANYTHING ELSE IS NOT.
(Especially not a fake TRASH EV)
By this logic, portal axles are manual transmissions, and I don’t think that makes any sense.
Merriam-Webster defines a manual transmission as a driver-operated system for changing gears: Manual transmission Definition & Meaning – Merriam-Webster
That said, there are a lot of ways to make an EV. Most today have a trans-axle layout where the motor, reduction gearbox, and differential are all in one compact package between the wheels (like most FWD layouts), and half-shafts connect to the wheel hubs.
You can also just bolt on a motor in front of a normal transmission, which a lot of retrofits do. Some even retain the clutch, though it isn’t needed.
There are also complicated hybrid setups like the Toyota eCVT, which is really more like a tank double-differential transmission using differentials to add variable ICE and EV inputs into a single output. Despite the name “CVT”, it has nothing in common with the typical belt-driven CVTs most people think of.
This is a stretch. You aren’t manually doing anything differently from an automatic. Sure, you select drive, but that’s the same as an automatic.
Yes but for the wrong reasons.
Driver-selectable regen power, particularly if it’s not buried in a menu, gives a similar feeling and increased driving engagement. In my Volt, pulling the shift lever to L gives you half power regen and holding a paddle behind the wheel is full power; for Hyundai Motor Group you use the paddles behind the steering wheel to select your strength up and down.
Sure sure.
And in the same light – cereal is a soup.
Cereal is a salad – comprised of ingredients which are prepared and dressed separately.
Soup is cooked or at least hot when all of the ingredients are combined.
Gazpacho is a smoothie.
It’s analogous to a fixie bicycle, it doesn’t have gears per-se.
Y the delta in definition?
https://www.theautopian.com/the-kia-ev9-has-the-worlds-first-electric-motor-that-can-change-gears/
They are neither manual nor automatic. Because transmissions are named after how to change between different gear ratios for the same direction.
Why everybody keeps telling, that EVs dont need gears? Sure, when vehicle is capable of spinning its wheels from standing still, i agree. But what about those with small power? Gears give them advantage of increasing torque at low vehicle speeds, improving acceleration and gradients climbing. Couple a years ago i built a small scooter with a hand drill engine. It used a 3 speed planetary bike transmission in a wheel hub and it allowed me to have 30 km/h top speed, brutal acceleration from standing still AND gave the ability to climb very steep hills. With only 180 watts
I will allow it of there is some direct physical link. For example if you shift to N you could press the go pedal and the motor free spins.
Parents, please don’t let your children cut batteries with chain saws.
I wonder how much traffic Torch’s unhinged takes drive to the website. Judging by the 3 pages of comments, I’d say a fair amount
By your logic, my Honda ADV 160 scooter doesn’t have a transmission. To go forward, I just twist the throttle. There’s no shift lever, foot pedal, anything.
To go backwards, I use my legs and don’t twist the throttle.
Obviously, the scooter has a transmission (a CVT) but doesn’t need any human input to do its thing.
So EV’s are just fixies for aging hipsters?