It is not the first time when product simulates imperfections of the past technology to make product more authentic in customers eyes. Film color,lenses defects, lots of "analog" audio effects and now cars.
On a sidenote, here's a controversial opinion - electrically-powered analog clocks are silly and we should discontinue making them.
Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
211–220 of 267 posts
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#212Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this still a problem now that we have auto braking?
Auto braking only mitigates crash impact in some scenarios, and prevents impacts in even fewer scenarios.
It might not even require GPS or anything complicated; just respond to car’s radar squawks, so that it can measure the distance and relative speed from the delay and Doppler shift. You’d need to use frequency that bounces around nicely, to “get around” other cars blocking the line of sight. We can’t do that with passive pedestrians, because we can’t tell the echo from pedestrian from the (also moving, like other cars) background. This could work more reliably and at much higher distances.
Of course someone must have tested that already; I’d be grateful for a link :-)
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#213Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#214Hyundai, Kia, and Audi EVs have paddle shifters which controls the level of regeneration braking and feels very much like downshifting. One paddle (+) steps up the regen to the point where the “drag” gets progressively stronger. The other paddle (-) steps down regen to 0 where the car can coast and there is no regen drag whatsoever. Note this is not the same as Neutral. The car is always in Drive. The function only a…
When would you actually need to not have the max regen braking? You can always just push the drive pedal slightly to let the car know you aren’t slowing down, instead.
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#215Earlier quoted context omitted.
Auto braking only mitigates crash impact in some scenarios, and prevents impacts in even fewer scenarios.
I wonder if we could have radio beacons for pedestrians, in addition to the current braking systems which use radio waves reflected from electronically passive pedestrians. It might not even require GPS or anything complicated; just respond to car’s radar squawks, so that it can measure the distance and relative speed from the delay and Doppler shift. You’d need to use frequency that bounces around nicely, to “get ar…
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#216Earlier quoted context omitted.
The UK authorities agree with you: if you pass the exam with a manual car you can use both, but if you pass it with an automatic one, you can only drive automatic ones.
It's the entirety of Europe - manual=both, automatic=automatic only.
Source: https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/medienmittei..., grep for Automateneintrag
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#217Earlier quoted context omitted.
My comment is more about why torque should be limitable, not a critique on electric cars.
Most cars have traction control AFAIK. Instead of limiting max torque, they notice when it's spinning the wheels. Same in reverse for breaks and abs. On my car you can turn it off if you want some fun on dirt tracks.
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#218I love driving manual transmission cars but I really don't like this. It's like cosplay for cars. The simulated experience makes it very uncool. I'd rather just let the manual transmission have one last dignified drive into the sunset.
But paddle shifters do nothing for me. There’s no feel to it. It’s more like 3 on the tree.
If the clutch gives it feel and control, I’m in.
Sadly, finding a real manual is hard these days. Most cars don’t offer them. My Honda is stuck in 1 package with a mid-2000s style dash. Still fun to drive.
I should look and see if I could retrofit an Apple Car Play/ Android Auto system in it…
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#219Earlier quoted context omitted.
Electric motors don’t need manual (or indeed, any) transmissions because they have a basically-flat torque curve across their entire RPM range. The only options for an electric motor are fake transmission or no transmission, and the parent is arguing for the latter and against “transmission cosplay”. A real manual transmission on an electric car would have no point.
Torque isn't the only consideration, there's also efficiency and acceleration. Transmission aren't a necessity like they are in ICE cars, but they can improve the experience. For instance the Porsche Taycan: "Having a multispeed transmission in an EV provides the same benefits that it does in a gasoline-powered car: improved low-speed acceleration and increased efficiency at high velocity by lowering the rotating spe…
Re: Toyota patents plans for EV with manual transmission and clutch
#220Earlier quoted context omitted.
When you're used to a manual, an automatic feels mushy. An EV is directly coupled, so adding a manual transmission makes it more must, rather than less.
Disagree--I used to have that objection with automatics, but the modern ones are good enough I no longer feel that way. Never have I felt my Corolla made the wrong choice about gears.