Toyota patents a manual transmission for electric cars.

Toyota may be trying to keep manual transmissions alive in electric vehicles. A series of patent applications discovered by a Toyota BZ forum user describe a way for EV drivers to shift on their own.

Most electric vehicles have only one or two forward gears, and that will not change here. The patent documents describe a shifter and clutch pedal that are not connected to the electric motor, but whose operation can be influenced through software. Sensors record the position of the clutch and shifter, and the controller changes the speed of the motor to simulate the operation of a manual transmission.

Toyota has been quite thorough in recreating the manual experience in their EVs. The documentation describes how to simulate clutch pressure and shift reaction force, as well as the equivalent of a tachometer, which displays a "virtual engine speed" that changes as the driver changes "gears" and engages and disengages the clutch.

Toyota is even going after a patent that simulates stalling. One document describes how the motor controller can initiate an artificial stall if the car comes to a stop without the driver disengaging the clutch, or if the simulated RPM drops below the point where the actual internal combustion engine stalls. Alternatively, the driver can switch to conventional EV mode without manual shifting.

Toyota is not the only automaker proposing electronic augmentation of manual transmissions, although it is unclear if this idea will ever be commercialized. Ford has applied for a patent for an electronic clutch, which would allow drivers to shift gears without operating the clutch.

Toyota plans to launch 30 EVs across the Toyota and Lexus brands by 2030. Late last year, the company unveiled 12 EV concepts, including an electric sports car suitable for simulating a manual gearbox. Toyota's first mass-market EV will be the 2023 BZ4X crossover, which will hit showrooms later this year along with its Subaru twin called the Solterra; the BZ4X is also expected to be the basis for the Lexus RZ crossover, due out next year.