When vehicles with manual transmissions and stick shifts were still the norm, car fans turned their noses up at the upstart automatics.
Considering how much more common automatics are than manuals today, with the latter now making up a paltry 3.7% of all cars in the US, it’s hard to believe there was ever a time when many motorists didn’t know what to make of vehicles with auto transmissions.
While there are still people who insist someone can’t really drive if they can’t drive a manual, the reality is that manual transmissions are a specialist choice rather than a default option.
Are ICE Cars Going the Way of Stick Shifts?
Vehicles with manual transmissions are yet among us. But only 18% of Americans of driving age can operate a stick-shift car. That’s less than two in five people.
Even so, have you considered whether the shift toward automatic transmissions and away from manual ones is playing out again between electric vehicles (EV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles? Here are 15 signs that automotive history may be repeating itself.
Ease of Use
Just as auto transmissions have simplified driving by eliminating the need to shift from gear to gear manually, EVs make it easier to get behind the wheel and be on your way. Unlike ICE cars, EVs afford fast acceleration and instant torque to give you more confidence on roads and highways.
Lower Learning Curve
People whose eye-hand coordination skills leave something to be desired find automatic transmissions more accessible than manuals.
In the same way, EVs make things easier for motorists. From an almost video-game-like user experience and driving aids to autonomous driving technology, EV drivers may find living with EVs even easier. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is a topic for another day. However, learning to drive an EV can be easier than doing so in an ICE vehicle.
Less Maintenance
Like cars with automatic transmissions eliminate the need for frequent clutch changes, EVs eliminate the need for owners to get oil and oil filter changes, spark plug changes, and other consumables required for ICE cars.
Easier to Use in Stop-and-Go Traffic
Automatics make stop-and-go city driving simpler compared to manuals that require people to shift into different gears constantly.
Nowadays, EVs simplify stop-and-go city driving over what ICE vehicles do by offering single-pedal driving and regenerative braking for better efficiency and a smoother driving experience.
More Accepted Despite Initial Skepticism
People who loved manuals had issues with auto transmissions — and those who drive them — for a long time. But that resistance is mostly a thing of the past since automatics vastly outnumber manuals.
These days, many ICE car fans who were previously dead set against EVs are not only giving them a chance but also appreciating what EVs bring to the table. While EVs haven’t been fully embraced the way automatic transmission vehicles have so far, more and more people are buying EVs.
So, it’s possible that EVs will one day be the norm while ICE vehicles will be the exception.
Higher Upfront Expenses with Lower Long-Term Costs
Automatic cars used to be more expensive than their equivalent manual cars, but people who went with the automatics saved money on clutch repairs and replacements.
While EVs have a higher upfront cost than ICE vehicles, buying the former over the latter can lead to savings on fuel and maintenance in the long run.
Simple Interior Layout
With the introduction and increasing popularity of automatic transmission vehicles, motorists got used to cabins with simpler aesthetics since they lacked gear sticks and clutch pedals.
Now, with the advent of EVs, adopters are seeing the benefits of even further simplified car controls, with no transmission tunnel freeing up lots of space for storage and the addition of technology and touchscreen displays, eliminating the need for tons of buttons, knobs, and switches.
Less Driver Fatigue
Automatic transmissions mean motorists have a lower workload behind the wheel since no stick shift means less driver fatigue resulting from pressing the clutch and shifting between gears.
The same is true about EVs over ICE cars since the former can activate single-pedal driving, regenerative braking, and driver assistance features, which can further reduce driver fatigue.
New Driving Experience
While fans of stick shifts may not believe that everything new is worth celebrating, automatics altered the tactile driving experience by eliminating the manual transmission and stick shift.
Meanwhile, EVs have had a similar impact on ICE vehicles with instant acceleration, regenerative braking, and no engine noise.
Extends Component Lifespan
The introduction of automatic transmissions gave clutches more longevity. Similarly, EVs can extend the longevity of components such as brakes if regenerative braking is used effectively.
Easier to Drive for Newbies
Learning to drive a stick shift can take longer than learning to drive an automatic, so many people prefer to go with the latter than with the former.
While learning to drive an automatic car is a piece of cake compared to understanding the ins and outs of properly using a stick shift, EVs can shorten the learning curve with features that simplify operation.
Seen as High-End Options Initially
When automatics were first rolled out to the public, they were viewed as high-end compared to manuals and commanded a premium for what was essentially a costed extra. The same thing is happening with the introduction of EVs. All you have to do is get a quote for insurance to see that there’s usually a premium to insure an EV over an ICE car—primarily due to the high-tech nature of EVs.
Less Engine Noise and Smoother Operation
Automatic transmissions offer a quieter and smoother driving experience than vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, especially for people who aren’t experts at using a stick shift.
Meanwhile, EVs are quieter and can offer a smoother driving experience than ICE cars. With no gas or diesel engine under the hood and often no gears at all, as the torque from zero rpm makes the need for gears irrelevant, the silence in the cabin of an EV can be eerie until you get used to it. The various driving modes can make for a smoother overall driving experience.
Accessible to More People
Depending on any physical limitations, people may find driving stick shifts difficult, if not impossible. Automatics made driving accessible to more people.
EVs can offer similar advantages over ICE vehicles. One-pedal driving and customizable settings like pedal sensitivity, steering wheel resistance, and drive modes can simplify operation. Advanced driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, autonomous parking, lane-keeping assist, voice commands, and autonomous driving functionality can also help.
Future-Oriented Mindset
Once upon a time, choosing an automatic over a manual was a sign of forward-thinking. In the present, selecting an EV over an ICE vehicle is also seen as a sign that the driver is embracing the future. While only time will tell how much runway is ahead for EVs, it can be argued that EVs are to ICE cars what automatics are to manuals. It’ll be interesting to see how things develop going forward.
