Ford Exploring a Simulated Manual for Electric Vehicles Featuring Haptic Shift Feedback

      If the experience of driving an electric vehicle doesn’t captivate you, several automakers, including Ford, are working to enhance that experience. This week, we learned that a patent application from Ford, dated 2023, was recently published. The document details a gear lever designed to mimic the operation of a manual transmission in an EV that lacks one.

      The application, titled “Shifter Assembly for Electric Vehicle,” primarily focuses on the components the driver would interact with—namely, the stick and the mechanical elements controlling it—rather than the software that connects the stick's movements to the powertrain's status. The diagrams in the application differentiate between a six-speed, H-pattern shifter and a sequential up/down shifter, though Ford’s design could potentially accommodate both by limiting movement along the transition from third to fourth gear.

      The patent notably references a “virtual pathway,” suggesting that this system would not be limited to a pre-defined route established at the factory. The actuator system enabling the stick’s movement could be electronically configured to emulate any style of H-pattern, whether it features four or seven speeds. (If you’re interested in the latter, that’s your choice—I’m personally too busy.)

      The application also discusses the potential for incorporating haptic feedback, possibly to recreate the sensation of a rod shifter compared to a smoother cable mechanism. Haptics can be quite impressive; for example, I’m still astonished by how my MacBook’s touchpad simulates a click without physically depressing, thanks to cleverly utilized motors. It’s easy to envision a simulated stick in a future electric Mustang that allows you to choose the number of gears, the reverse position, the force needed to shift, and the amount of tactile feedback, all controllable via sliders on the vehicle’s infotainment screen.

      While this vision may seem controversial to some, when the time comes for internal combustion engines to become obsolete, I would prefer to have options rather than none; it isn’t harming anyone. Moreover, we older generations can share stories with the younger crowd about how we used to operate vehicles the traditional way, where making the mistake of downshifting into first gear instead of third would have resulted in more than just a minor nudge to select a higher gear.

      As is typical with patents from automotive manufacturers, there is no certainty that this simulated shifter mechanism will eventually be included in a Ford EV. However, it’s reasonable to anticipate that Ford will incorporate some form of tactile faux manual controls in its vehicles, whether resembling the paddles used by Hyundai in the Ioniq 5 N or something more traditional like this design. Before that occurs, we’ll likely first need to see a fully electric Mustang sports car introduced.

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