The Lexus UX300e electric car features a simulated manual transmission, recreating the feel of driving a traditional manual car. ( Video : CarsCoops)
For decades, automotive engineers have been striving to make driving easier. However, Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus are going against the trend in their pursuit of the purest driving pleasure. Newly released patent documents reveal that the company is still perfecting a simulated manual transmission system for electric vehicles, complete with a gear shifter and clutch pedal. This technology can automatically assess the driver's skill level to adjust the difficulty, and accurately simulate engine stalling if the driver's clutch and accelerator pedals are not coordinated smoothly.
Although electric cars lack internal combustion engines to shut off the ignition system or mechanical gear sets to be damaged, Toyota's concept still replicates the experience of driving a manual transmission with a high degree of realism. According to leaked documents, if the driver selects the wrong gear or releases the clutch too quickly, the central computer will immediately cut off power from the electric motor and bring the car to a complete stop, simulating engine stalling.
Toyota has been experimenting with this for several years. The first prototype appeared on the Lexus UX300e in 2022, combining a mechanical gear shifter and clutch pedal with an engine sound simulator to give an electric car the same lively driving feel as a traditional sports car.
The latest documents reveal that the Japanese automaker is aiming to make this technology more realistic. The control software will automatically calculate a virtual engine RPM range to determine if the gear the driver is selecting is appropriate for the actual speed. If the virtual RPM range drops too low when the vehicle starts moving, the simulated engine will immediately shut off.
Toyota's system is also capable of recognizing the driving skill level of the driver. The technology analyzes driving habits to determine the driver's experience with manual transmissions and automatically adjusts the assistance features. New drivers are automatically given hill-start assist, while more experienced drivers must manually control the clutch and accelerator to prevent the car from rolling backward on inclines. A launch control function is also integrated, allowing the driver to perform a decisive virtual clutch release for maximum acceleration.
Last year, a representative from Lexus's engineering team shared that legal hurdles in some countries were still preventing the program from going into commercial production. In the UK or Japan, drivers who pass the driving test with an automatic transmission are not allowed to drive a manual transmission. Therefore, if an electric car possesses this flexible on/off simulator system, determining which type of driver's license is required remains an unanswered question.
Toyota has not yet made an official decision on whether or not to put this concept into commercial production.