Ford Patents Artificial Manual Shifter to Revitalize EV Driving Experience | Carscoops

      The shifter is also set to provide haptic feedback, enhancing the driving experience.

      10 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      Ford's patent reveals a simulated shifter designed to replicate the traditional gear-changing action in electric vehicles (EVs).

      This system incorporates actuators and motors to imitate the tactile sensation of an H-pattern gearbox.

      Although Ford has patented the system, there is no assurance that it will be included in future production models.

      For those who have a basic understanding of the current situation, it's evident that electric vehicles have quietly dominated the practical driving scene. They are smooth, quiet, efficient, and for most, that's precisely what daily driving should entail. However, for car enthusiasts, the narrative differs slightly. Most EVs lack the excitement of a manual gasoline-powered car revving through its power band. Automakers acknowledge this gap and have begun experimenting. Ford, it appears, is the latest to venture into the "manual EV" experiment.

      Toyota has been developing a simulated manual transmission for future EVs since at least 2022, and Hyundai has made headlines by replicating a dual-clutch transmission in the popular Ioniq 5 N. Now, a recently published patent from Ford indicates that they, too, are creating a faux stick shift intended for EVs.

      Watch: Toyota's Six-Speed Manual for EVs Feels Just Like the Real Thing, Say Testers

      The application, initially filed in the U.S. back in September 2023 and published on March 20, was made public a few weeks ago, garnering attention from Jalopnik. It outlines and displays a shifter that employs multiple actuators, vertical drive posts, vertical guide posts, and motors to simulate gear transitions. While this may sound intricate, it means the shifter could be adjusted to simulate various types of H-pattern configurations with differing numbers of simulated gears. In theory, this setup could also facilitate simple sequential up and down shifting.

      This isn't merely a gimmick, either. Ford also highlights the incorporation of haptic feedback to provide drivers with a more physical experience. The patent openly addresses a significant concern: EVs lack the physical connection that drivers experience in combustion engine vehicles. As Ford states, electric vehicles "lack operator to vehicle physical feedback that is advantageous in conventional motor vehicles."

      Will It Ever Hit the Road?

      Of course, even though Ford submitted this patent application over 18 months ago, there's no guarantee it will reach production. Implementing a simulated shifter would only be logical if the EV is a sporty model. After all, nobody is likely to purchase an Explorer EV equipped with a stick shift. However, if Ford opts to eventually introduce a genuine electric Mustang (as opposed to the Mach-E), or perhaps an electric hot hatch, a shifter like this could be a great fit. Until then, it appears to be an innovative concept remaining in the theoretical phase.