Ford patents ‘manual gearbox’ for its EV range

Ford has patented a simulated manual gearbox for its line-up of all electric vehicles, with plans for a fake sequential or traditional ‘H-gate’ shifter.

Images within a patent summary show a traditional gear lever with a larger housing, surrounded by configurable actuators. The transmission will mirror the way changing up or down a gear in a car with an internal combustion engine delivers different levels of power and torque. Moreover, it’s rumoured that the transmission can be configured to be used as either a traditional H-pattern, or a more contemporary back-and-forth sequential system such as a DSG.

The patent summary, first filed in late 2023 but only just publicly listed, reads “the shifter assembly includes a base, a shifter handle, and a plurality of actuators”. In short, when the simulated transmission is active and being used, it alters the electricity flow between the vehicle’s battery and its motors.

While the H-gate approach is unusual, Ford is not the only carmaker to explore adding a ‘manual’ transmission to its EVs.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has a simulated paddle shift gearbox paired with a matching burbling four-cylinder soundtrack. The updated Lexus RZ deploys a similar system, using the braking regeneration paddles as sequential shifters and adding synthesised ‘engine’ sounds, torque management and an artificial rev limiter.

Lexus’ parent company, Toyota, has created a prototype manual system for its EVs using a clutch, which uses sensors and software to detect the movement of the gear lever and adjust torque output in-line with the gear.

Honda says it is working on both synthesised gears and simulated ICE vibrations through the seats of its upccoming 0 Series of EVs set for launch in 2026.

This year has started positive for Ford and its EV line-up. The Blue Oval has put its all-electric Puma Gen-E, E-Tourneo, and E-Transit Courier into full-scale production at its Craiova plant in Romania.

Moreover, Ford will once again gun for glory at the Pikes Peak hillclimb in a NASCAR-derived version of its all-electric Mustang Mach-E.