Lexus is currently testing a manual transmission to an electric car. This is to dispel the notion that electric cars are too boring to drive.
Unlike conventional cars, electric cars are currently generally equipped with automatic transmissions. On the other hand, conventional cars always come in two options, manual and automatic.
Even an electric car made by Porsche, namely the Porsche Taycan, is only equipped with an automatic transmission. It’s no wonder that many people, especially enthusiastic drivers, find electric cars boring and not fun to drive.
That is what Lexus is trying to avoid in testing the manual transmission in their first electric car, the Lexus UX300e. For this trial, Lexus needs to make some changes to the Lexus UX300e.
Lexus is developing a manual transmission for electric cars, and here's a first look at a working prototype. Is this the future of the driver's car? https://t.co/sUIaspEpeO pic.twitter.com/aaTUBz6qGg
— evo magazine (@evomagazine) December 5, 2022
This was done so that the manual transmission they were testing could run perfectly on the electric car. For example, installing an RPM meter, manual transmission lever, and clutch.
Apart from physical changes, there are also other changes, namely performance mapping and power distribution. This was done so that the manual transmission sensation can be felt well in the Lexus UX300e.
Lexus says the presence of a manual transmission will actually provide a new perspective on electric cars. For example, getting a better speed on demand, as well as putting out much more power on demand. Those things are lacking in electric cars with automatic transmissions.
“This project started when several Lexus engineers started contemplating what they liked about traditional ICE vehicles and what they should be missing in an electric car. Manual transmission is one of the things they enjoy in particular,” said Takashi Watanabe, Chief Engineer at Lexus Electrified.
“There’s nothing more exciting to an enthusiastic driver than being able to manually shift gears for just the right amount of torque at any time. It’s great that the project is now under serious development. It may even be featured in our future electric cars,” he added.
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