Most electrical automobiles do not have multi-speed transmissions—and do not want them. A number of gears could even harm effectivity, actually. However that hasn’t stopped Honda from experimenting with a guide transmission for electrical automobiles.
The automaker is at present testing a guide gearbox—full with a clutch pedal—for EVs, an engineer advised The Drive throughout a latest media occasion highlighting tech options for the upcoming Honda 0 Sequence EVs. Honda wasn’t keen to debate manufacturing plans, although.
Honda Sequence 0 prototype (Accord)
If it does make it to manufacturing, the guide transmission may very well be accompanied by synthetic gas-engine sounds. On the similar media occasion, Honda confirmed off the power to duplicate the sounds of iconic fashions just like the S2000, CRX, and NSX-R, in addition to the newer NSX Kind S and the present Civic Kind R, in its EVs.
Guide transmissions is probably not obligatory for EV effectivity and efficiency, however some automotive engineers and executives consider they could be price together with in efficiency EVs to protect driver involvement and cater to fans used to combustion automobiles.
Honda Sequence 0 prototype (Accord)
Whereas he was nonetheless CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda championed a guide transmission with clutch pedal in EVs. In a 2023 interview, Toyoda stated the purpose was to duplicate the total expertise of a combustion-engine automotive—full with stalling—minus the scent of gasoline. It was a predictable transfer for Toyoda. The grandson of Toyota’s founder, he is an avid racer who throughout his tenure additionally pushed for extra efficiency fashions just like the revived Supra sports activities automotive.
Hyundai has already tried to realize the same have an effect on with out going to the extent of together with bodily gears and a clutch pedal. The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N options synthetic shift factors, accompanied by an artificial soundtrack—all managed by software program.
