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Honda surprises by testing a manual transmission for electric vehicles, bringing the traditional gear-changing experience to the world of electric cars. Understand how this innovation can impact the market!
Honda, known among car enthusiasts for its tradition of high-quality manual transmissions, surprised by announcing a tech innovative company focused on its future electric cars. At a recent event in Japan, company presented a concept that combines the best of both worlds: the sustainability of electric cars and the nostalgic driving experience of a manual transmission.
This technology, called “synthetic manual transmission”, features a clutch pedal and simulates gear changes, bringing back a classic experience for those who enjoy this type of driving.
What is Synthetic Manual Transmission?
Honda's synthetic manual transmission is a system developed to simulate the experience of driving a car with a manual transmission, even in electric vehicles, which do not require this type of transmission by nature.
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BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE
The proposal includes a functional clutch pedal and simulation of gear changes, making driving more immersive for the driver.
The engineer responsible for the innovation shared that the system is capable of emulating specific sensations from iconic Honda models, such as the S2000 and the Civic Type R, creating a kind of nostalgia for the brand's enthusiasts.
How does manual transmission work?
While the technical details are still being developed, Honda has said that the system uses engine noises and artificial gear ratios to simulate the experience of a manual transmission.
The synthetic gearbox operates through a set of sensors and electronic actuators that interpret the driver's pressure on the clutch pedal and the movement of the lever, generating the desired response in the vehicle.
The auditory experience is also designed to enhance the feeling of authenticity, using technology similar to active sound control. In other words, the driver can hear sounds that resemble the roar of the engine, despite the typical silence of EVs.
At the event, journalists had the opportunity to experience the concept in a Honda e Digital UX, a prototype that was programmed to simulate different vehicle profiles, including the NSX sports car and even the sound of the HondaJet, in a unique combination that approaches the tastes of the brand's fans.
Challenges and Expectations for the Future
Creating the synthetic manual transmission was not simple. According to Shinji Aoyama, Honda's head of electrification, the technology faced both mechanical and technological barriers. "Artificially, we can do it.
Mechanically, it’s not easy,” Aoyama said. The difficulty lies in the fact that electric vehicles operate differently from combustion vehicles, with a more direct and faster response to the accelerator, without the need for a clutch or gear changes. Creating a system that emulates this experience required a high level of innovation to ensure driver safety and satisfaction.
However, Honda has not yet confirmed whether this technology will be commercially available in any production model. The decision to bring this experience to market may depend on consumer interest and the economic viability of its large-scale implementation.
The brand wants to ensure that this technology, if it reaches the market, offers a convincing and pleasant experience, even in heavy traffic situations, where constant use of the clutch could become tiring.
The implications for the EV market
Honda’s introduction of synthetic manual transmission raises questions about the future of electric vehicles and their ability to be customized for different driver profiles. The EV audience is generally focused on innovation and sustainability, but there is still a niche of consumers who seek the driving experience of combustion vehicles.
Thus, Honda sees an opportunity to serve this specific group, by offering a technology that restores the pleasure of gear changing, adapted to a more modern environmental context.
Honda's approach also follows a trend in the automotive industry, where companies have been trying to combine traditional elements with innovative technologies to offer a more complete experience for the driver.
Brands like Hyundai, for example, have already tested artificial noise systems in models like the Ioniq 5 N, which simulate the sound of a combustion engine. However, Honda takes this idea to another level with a simulated manual transmission, which could open up a new market for performance-oriented EVs.
And what do consumers think?
Consumer opinion is still divided. While some enthusiasts celebrate Honda's initiative to keep the tradition of manual transmissions alive, others question the need for an artificial transmission in an electric car, whose technology eliminates the need for gear changes.
However, Honda believes that this innovation could generate a competitive edge, attracting a nostalgic audience that values the unique experience of a more interactive and mechanical driving experience.
For now, Honda's synthetic manual transmission is just a concept. Whether or not it will be implemented in a production model is still uncertain. But with the increasing changes and adaptations in the EV market, this could be a bold move for the brand, which is trying to reconcile modernity with tradition, and win over new audiences for its electric models.
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