The sentimental tug of the manual transmission is proving to be a surprising sticking point in the automotive industry’s electrified era. Drivers’ affinity for the tactile engagement of a stick shift highlights a cultural resistance to the sweeping changes brought by electric vehicles (EVs).
Despite the industry’s relentless march toward electric powertrains, enthusiasts in the United States still display a marked enthusiasm for manual transmissions. The preference isn’t limited to sports cars; This enduring passion is in stark contrast to the global decline of manual gearboxes, with the emergence of advanced automatic transmissions and the adoption of EVs.
A visceral connection to the act of driving is at the heart of this attachment. Manual transmissions provide a level of control and involvement that automatics—whether in a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle or an EV—do not match. Critics of electric cars often lament their apparent soullessness and the disconnection from the sensory experiences associated with traditional driving, such as the sound of the engine and the rhythm of gear changes.
However, as the world pivots toward electric mobility, the relevance of manual transmissions is waning. EVs inherently adopt automatic transmissions due to their single-speed gearboxes, a design optimized for electric motors’ broad torque curve. In fact, all EVs operate on this principle, delivering power seamlessly without the need for complex gear-shifting mechanisms or a clutch.
The decline of manuals can be traced to multiple factors, including increased urban traffic congestion, the narrowing price difference between automatics and manuals, and the obvious efficiency and performance benefits of automatic transmissions. Data shows that only a fraction of new car sales in the U.S. now feature a manual transmission, with rates dipping below 1% in the first half of 2023.
Nevertheless, manual transmissions aren’t extinct yet. They remain popular in emerging economies, where affordability is crucial. But with the advent of more accessible electric models, the popularity of manuals is set to diminish further.
The industry has made some attempts to bridge the gap for manual enthusiasts entering the electric age, such as Ford’s one-off electric Mustang with a manual transmission and Toyota’s patent for a “simulated manual gearbox.” However, these efforts seem more like nods to nostalgia than harbingers of a lasting trend.
Relevant articles:
– EV Sales Sticking Point: People Still Want Manual Transmissions Hackaday, Nov 15, 2022
– The Manual Transmission Is Dying: Here’s Why gearpatrol.com
– Are electric cars automatic or manual? wepoweryourcar.com
– The Manual Gearbox Keeps Getting Rarer motor1.com