Fake It Till You Make It: Would You Buy an EV With a Fake Manual Transmission?
One shortcoming of an EV is that it eliminates the need for a manual transmission. However, fake manual transmissions are on the way.
“Fake, fake, fake, fake.” – Elaine Benes. This classic Seinfeld line can be used to describe many things in a modern automobile. Many cars use enhanced or flat-out faked engine and exhaust sounds to make the car sound more exciting. Some people love it, others hate it, and many probably don’t even realize it is fake. But the next big thing could be fake manual transmissions. It sounds bizarre but actually can make some logical sense. Most modern EVs have single speed transmissions. Audi and Porsche have models that use a two-speed transmission. But there is nothing out there yet with say 6-speeds. And even the two-speed transmissions in EVs are automatics. But if you are a car enthusiast you likely enjoy shifting gears on your own. Just like you enjoy racy engine sounds. An EV eliminates both. Technology might bring them both back.
Jason Fenske recently posted a video on his Engineering Explained YouTube channel. In the video he explains why most EVs currently don’t have multi-speed transmissions. And he goes further to explain how a fake manual transmission could possibly work in an EV. Would you buy one? Would having a manual transmission, even if it was fake, make you more willing to buy an EV? Let’s start by hearing what Fenske has to say.
Audi RS e-tron GT Transmission
Fenske begins by explaining that the extremely lovely Audi RS e-tron GT is one of the few EVs to use a two-speed transmission on the rear axle. Its corporate cousin the Porsche Taycan also uses it. The reason it is used is to benefit acceleration. Using some math Fenske shows that the accelerative force in first gear is significantly higher than in second gear. So why don’t all EVs use a two-speed? Because the facts are it really is not needed. Other EVs can match the acceleration of the Audi RS e-tron GT by being either lighter weight or making more power. And for the other EVs where ultimate acceleration is not a huge deal. Those can use a single gear because the fact is an electric motor makes good power and torque across the entire rpm range.
Why Fake It?
Why would an auto manufacturer want to build fake manual transmissions? Nostalgia. There is no technical or rational benefit to it in an EV. But car enthusiasts like many of you reading this article are not rational when it comes to a car purchase. You want feeling, and passion. You want to be involved in the driving experience. And shifting your own gears is still one of the best ways to achieve all of that. Automakers are in business to sell cars. And they know that one of the sticking points with an EV is that they remove some of the passion from driving. They are very quick in a straight line, but they don’t make rumbly sounds. And you certainly can’t heel and toe in one. But what if they could make it so that you could? That could make an EV appealing to a whole new set of buyers.
Toyota
Yes, this is an Audi site, but we need to reference Toyota here. Toyota has filed a patent application for a manual transmission in an electric car. This car will have three pedals, including a clutch. It will have a 6-speed gear shifter. So, it will look and in theory perform just like a traditional manual transmission. But it is not real. The clutch, shifter, torque, and rpms. Fake, fake, fake, fake. The fake manual transmission will artificially limit torque in each gear. It will artificially prevent you from accelerating with the clutch pushed in. It is all smoke and mirrors.
The Porsche Problem
In the final minutes of the video Fenske provides us with his thoughts on the Audi RS e-tron GT that he is driving. The car looks beautiful, and Fenske can confirm that the car is extremely quick in a straight line. He thinks the e-tron is an appealing car overall. Visibility is not very good but that is not its biggest issue. The big issue is the Porsche Taycan Turbo. The Audi in this video is about $162,000. That is basically Taycan Turbo money. The two cars are very similar but at the risk of stating the obvious, only one is a Porsche. Some people don’t care but many feel the Porsche badge carries more prestige so for equal money they would rather go to a Porsche dealership.
Your Thoughts
Watch the video below. Then head to the Audi World forums and let us know what you think. Would a fake manual transmission appeal to you? Would you take the Taycan over the e-tron? We would love to hear your thoughts.
Click HERE to join the AudiWorld forums!
