Ford may put stick shifts in its EVs, only 18% of US drivers know how to use it

• Ford has filed a patent for a simulated stick shift in its EVs to enhance driver engagement. This is even though fewer than 20% of American drivers know how to use a manual transmission.
• The system would use an electronic actuator to simulate gear shifts, adjusting motor output and torque instead of physically shifting gears.
• Other automakers, like Hyundai and Toyota, are also exploring similar technologies. Ford has not confirmed if or when it will implement the feature.

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Ford Motor Company has filed a patent that could see its electric vehicles (EVs) bring back a feature that has largely disappeared from modern vehicles: the stick shift. However, less than a fifth of American drivers actually know how to use it.

Why is Ford bringing back the stick shift?

The patent, published this month, aims to create a system designed to enhance driver engagement in EVs. Some drivers have reported that the seamless and continuous acceleration of electric models can feel monotonous, particularly at higher speeds.

How does Ford plan to do this?

Since EVs do not have traditional gearboxes, Ford’s system would use an electronic actuator to control the motor’s output and torque rather than mechanically engaging gears. This means shifting would be a simulated experience, adjusting the flow of electricity instead of physically shifting gears.

To create a more realistic experience, the system includes a small motor at the base of the shifter, designed to generate vibrations and resistance that mimic the feel of shifting gears in a conventional manual transmission car.

Are any other automakers considering this?

Ford is not the only automaker currently exploring this concept. Hyundai has already implemented a virtual shifting system in its Ioniq 5 N, allowing drivers to simulate gear changes using paddle shifters. Toyota is also testing a similar feature in its Lexus RZ prototype.

Do US drivers know how to use a stick shift?

This development comes at a time when fewer American drivers are familiar with manual transmissions. A survey by U.S. News & World Report found that only 18% of Americans know how to drive a stick shift, a decline from the 1990s when the figure ranged between 25% and 30%. Additionally, less than 1% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year had manual gearboxes.

What happens next?

A Ford spokesperson declined to disclose details about potentially implementing a stick in the company’s EVs, emphasizing that filing patent applications is a routine business practice to protect intellectual property. The automaker further noted that a patent application should not be interpreted as a confirmation of future product plans.