OPINION: EVS SHOULD HAVE TRANSMISSION OPTIONS

It's no secret that car manufacturers, in general, are working towards an electric future. While I disagree on fully electrifying the automotive industry, we all have to accept that an all-EV end is possible (if everything is done correctly). There might come a time when all ICE cars will become unusable, forcing us to buy EVs or at least electrify our current vehicles.

EVs, however, are known for being dull and soulless, one common reason is that they typically don't come with transmissions. And while this does not immediately mean that all EVs are bland and lifeless, there is still something about shifting gears (whether it's through a gearstick or paddle shifters) that put a smile on our faces, which is why I believe EVs with transmissions would be a great idea.

Now, it's possible to put a transmission on an EV. Manufacturers such as Ford and Jeep have done this, creating electric concept versions of the Mustang and Wrangler, respectively. Even a small company called Electrogenic, which does EV conversions, has successfully electrified a 1965 Porsche 356 while retaining its original four-speed gearbox. (AutoTrader has done a video on the car. I will provide the link in the comments.)

The assembly is relatively simple: place the transmission like you would when building an ICE vehicle (only this time, you have an electric motor instead of an ICE). For those who wish to electrify their current cars, your current transmissions may not be compatible with electric motors. However, a specially designed adaptor is all you need (such as the case with the Electrogenic 356).

The only problem with this idea (as far as I can see) is that it isn't logical. Electric motors neither stall nor have redlines. If anything, adding a transmission could be detrimental to the car as it would just add more complexity and weight as well as reduce efficiency (I won't get into why, as there's a lot of engineering and stuff involved, and I'm not qualified to explain any of it.).

Then again, we're car enthusiasts. We're not always the most logical people when it comes to this stuff. Most of us prefer manuals over automatics and CVTs - even if we all know modern automatics and CVTs are smoother, more efficient, and more convenient - just because manuals are more fun. We also tend to ditch practicality and focus on performance (I'm guilty of this, BTW). It doesn't just apply to car enthusiasts as well: for example, some people love collecting shoes or Kpop albums, even if those shoes hardly get worn or those albums played. All that is illogical, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, it is precisely what makes an enthusiast an enthusiast.

Of course, all of this is just an opinion from some guy who has only driven cars. It is not guaranteed that manufacturers will share the same idea, even if you all agree with what I said. The best we could do is hope: hope that whatever happens, even if cars will look very different once we leave this world behind, the thrill of driving lives on.

Do you think EVs should have transmissions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.