What Happened to Driving Manual?
Slideshow: Vehicles with manual transmissions are becoming less and less commonplace. Consumer demand and automotive technology changed in recent decades and manufacturers are no longer willing to supply cars with stick shifts as frequently as they once did. An entire generation of drivers lacks the skills to operate a standard transmission making the eventual extinction of these vehicles inevitable.
A Lost Skill
Anyone who can count from one to six can already operate most manual gearboxes. All a driver really needs to do is develop the coordination to work a clutch and gear selector simultaneously. With practice, the simple foot and hand movements become routine, but it does take some time to develop the muscle memory. Most new drivers cannot spare the extra attention manual transmissions require. Instead, they rely on automatic transmissions to do much of the work for them while practicing for the all-important road test at the DMV. Once a staple of driver training, manual shifting is an optional skill many simply choose not learn.
Manual Gearboxes Were Once Standard Equipment on Entry Level Cars
Manual gearboxes are sturdy and cheap to produce. Gears ride enmeshed along an upper input shaft and a lower output shaft. A pedal operated clutch releases input torque from the engine allowing the driver to change the gear with a lever actuated synchronizer. Upon releasing the clutch pedal, power returns to the drive wheels with a different torque profile. Most entry-level vehicles came equipped with these standard transmissions. They are lightweight and the direct input from the engine produces better fuel economy than most automatics. Affordability encouraged new drivers to opt for these. Many auto sports enthusiasts still prefer manual transmissions for the improved road feel, but consumers don't have to settle for cheaper equipment anymore.
Automatics: Better, Safer, Affordable
Automatic transmissions have come a long way in recent decades. Computer controlled hydraulics work a system of clutches and bands to grip elements of planetary gear sets. The car times shifts by itself depending on road speed and throttle input. In the 1950s, automatics were heavy, inefficient and problematic luxury options, but recent Improvements in performance and reliability have earned consumer confidence. Most automatic transmissions last 150,000 miles on average, and precise control of the shift points produces more efficient engine operation reducing fuel consumption. They are more comfortable for drivers as well and eliminate the need to work a clutch pedal in heavy traffic. Manual gearboxes are nearly obsolete. Some auto dealers report that less than 1% of total vehicles sold have manual transmissions.
The CVT and Other Boondoggles
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) functions similarly to an automatic from the driver’s perspective, but it has a much simpler mechanical system powering it. A metal band stretched across input and output drives and changes its shape dynamically to alter the gear ratio. Boasting improved fuel economy and lower engine wear, the CVT has yet to live up to the hype, but manufacturers have not given up on the technology. Newer transmissions often feature variants of this concept combined with conventional automatic transmission elements. Drivers experience shiftless operation with specific acceleration profiles achieved without a change in engine output.
Electric Drive Systems
Electric motors do not typically require a transmission. In the case of the Tesla S, the motor connects directly to a spider gear set and the axles. Electric motors have more torque and are often powerful enough to snap drive shafts. Electronic controls tune the output to reduce stress on metal components and simulate the acceleration drivers expect from more conventional transmissions. As combustion engines continue to lose market share to electric powered vehicles, transmission-free cars may become the new standard.
A Farewell to Foot Pedals
The standard three-pedal configuration on a car with a manual transmission is a vast improvement over designs found in antiques like the Ford Model-T. Vehicles with automatic transmissions bring the collection of foot controls down to just two. In time, electric power vehicles might even eliminate the brake in favor of single pedal operation. The Chevy Bolt is a fully electric vehicle that already offers drivers the option for single pedal operation. The regenerative braking systems bring the car to a halt as soon as the driver lets up off of the accelerator. The row of foot pedals along the driver’s floorboard is getting smaller all the time, and it doesn’t seem like the old manual gearbox has much of a chance at a comeback.
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