Are There Manual Transmission Electric Cars?
Introduction
Electric cars have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they offer a number of advantages over gasoline-powered vehicles, including lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and improved performance. One of the biggest drawbacks of electric cars, however, is that they typically come with automatic transmissions. This can be a major turnoff for drivers who prefer the feel and control of a manual transmission.
So, are there any electric cars that offer a manual transmission? The answer is yes, but they are few and far between. In this post, we’ll take a look at the only two production electric cars that currently offer a manual transmission: the Porsche Taycan and the MINI Cooper SE.
Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is a luxury electric sports car that was first introduced in 2019. It is available in a variety of configurations, including a base model with a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive, and a top-of-the-line Turbo S model with two electric motors and all-wheel drive.
One of the most interesting features of the Taycan is that it is the only electric car on the market that offers a manual transmission. The manual transmission is available on the base model Taycan, and it features six forward gears and one reverse gear.
The manual transmission in the Taycan is not a traditional manual transmission. Instead, it is a “shift-by-wire” system that uses electronic actuators to shift the gears. This system provides the driver with the same feel and control of a traditional manual transmission, but without the need for a physical clutch pedal.
The manual transmission in the Taycan is a great option for drivers who want the feel and control of a manual transmission in an electric car. However, it is important to note that the manual transmission is not as efficient as the automatic transmission, and it can reduce the Taycan’s range by up to 10%.
MINI Cooper SE
The MINI Cooper SE is a subcompact electric car that was first introduced in 2020. It is based on the gasoline-powered MINI Cooper, but it features a fully electric powertrain.
The MINI Cooper SE comes standard with a single electric motor and front-wheel drive. It has a range of up to 114 miles on a single charge.
One of the most interesting features of the MINI Cooper SE is that it is the only electric car on the market that offers a manual transmission. The manual transmission is available as an option on the base model MINI Cooper SE, and it features six forward gears and one reverse gear.
The manual transmission in the MINI Cooper SE is a traditional manual transmission, which means that it requires the driver to use a clutch pedal to shift gears. This system provides the driver with the same feel and control of a traditional manual transmission, but it can be more difficult to drive for drivers who are not familiar with manual transmissions.
The manual transmission in the MINI Cooper SE is a great option for drivers who want the feel and control of a manual transmission in an electric car. However, it is important to note that the manual transmission is not as efficient as the automatic transmission, and it can reduce the MINI Cooper SE’s range by up to 5%.
Conclusion
So, are there any electric cars that offer a manual transmission? Yes, there are two: the Porsche Taycan and the MINI Cooper SE. Both of these cars offer a manual transmission as an option, but it is important to note that the manual transmission is not as efficient as the automatic transmission and can reduce the car’s range.
If you are a driver who prefers the feel and control of a manual transmission, then the Porsche Taycan and the MINI Cooper SE are the only two electric cars on the market that can offer you what you are looking for.