Ford’s New EV Patent Brings Back the Stick Shift — Just for Fun

Look, I love my EV. It's quiet, quick, clean, and I honestly don't see myself ever going back to a gas-guzzler. And no, it's not just for the environment (although that's a nice perk). It's about the feel. There's something deeply satisfying about pushing your foot down and instantly feeling the car respond—no gears, no revving, just pure, immediate torque. It feels like my thoughts are controlling the wheels.

But here's the catch: I also grew up driving stick. And once you've truly mastered manual, it's hard to go back. There's nothing like the satisfying click into gear, the subtle dance of clutch and gas, the feeling that you are truly driving the machine, not just steering it. It's raw, it's tactile, it's almost romantic. And electric vehicles? Well… they just don't have that.

Until now. Maybe.

Ford just filed a patent for a simulated manual shifter for EVs. No, it doesn't actually change gears—there are no gears to shift—but that's not the point. The system uses actuators, sensors, and some clever feedback motors to replicate the feeling of a traditional gearbox. Move the shifter and you'll feel resistance, fake notches, even vibration like you're wrangling an old-school muscle car. All of it tied to actual changes in torque and speed to give you the illusion of shifting. Heck, you can even stall it. (On purpose, we assume.)

It's like cosplay for car nerds.

This is the automotive equivalent of putting a record scratch in your Spotify playlist—completely unnecessary, but it scratches a nostalgic itch. And I love it. It's clearly not about performance. In fact, Ford even admits it'll make your EV slower. But it's about engagement, and that's something a lot of EVs have struggled with.

So will it ever hit production? No clue. It's just a patent for now, but Ford's not the only one exploring this. Hyundai's doing paddle shifters in the Ioniq 5 N, and Toyota's playing with similar ideas for Lexus. And maybe—just maybe—if enough of us stick-shift die-hards make some noise, we'll get a future where driving electric still feels like… driving a car.

Because sometimes, pretending is half the fun.