The gears thing is one thing I will be sad to lose. I was telling my children that by the time they learnt I drive, it’ll be fool proof pretty much as every car will be automatic. The learning process will be shorter and easier than the past 100 years where everybody had to learn how to actually drive a car with a manual gearbox. I suppose that is a sign of the times. I was a passenger in an electric Kia the other day and was impressed by how smooth it was but the quiet aspect needs correcting I think. It’s nice to hear an engine and also safer from a pedestrian perspective.
I really do no miss the gears. I always found it a strange thing. EVs are unusual in so much as they are not even automatic as they just go - and can go as quickly backwards as forwards. There are no gears, no changes and not even a continually variable transmission. The power is simply regulated electronically. I would not wish to go back to gears of any type.
The instant reaction from an EV is something that catches others out. On the rare occasion I have to move an ICE car I am caught out by how long and how much persuasion it takes to get it to do anything.
One thing EV are fun for is when a large sports car pulls up alongside and sits making a noise nuisance of itself at traffic lights. I only have a Renault Zoe (small car) so it surprises them when I can leave them standing in their fancy sports cars and they have no hope of moving, accelerating or catching me within a reasonable distance. When you push go on an EV it just goes and makes no hesitation about it if you give it suitable instruction.
Personally I would love to see controls change. I hate foot pedals and see no Need for them. I would like hand controls. Also see no need for the useless direction selector. The wheel is a legacy of when the gearing was needed in steering to turn the steering. Now it is electronic so the wheel is not needed. I would love the whole dash removed and replaced with a screen and maybe move controls to a joystick type with on my right hand on the door. Despite being 50+ I am quite adept with video games and can control racing games with far more precision with a game controller than I can with a wheel.
The lack of time needed for drivers to learn idiosyncratic control systems is a benefit. They can focus on the rules, regulations, safety and process of driving. Not having to think about controls is surely a good thing - as iPhone and iPad have very clearly demonstrated. I think a lot more time spent on theory, safety, economy and environmentally aware driving would be a good thing.
If I was at learning age now I would be EV only and would be quite happy with a license that was suitably restricted.
The noise obsession soon goes. Suddenly you can enjoy the quiet and appreciate audiobooks, podcasts and music without the drone. Then when there are dozens of noise generators in a road people like me who have noise issues (ASD) are not so sensory overloaded.
I cant wait to see where EV goes next. I already have a range of driver aids. It has cameras, radar assist, distance and lane warnings, emergency braking, speed recognition and limits, park assist (it steers and even advises when it spots a space that works - I just control speed), adapative cruise control … With better, modern controls (no pedals, levers, wheels and such) and a range of tech assistants it will be hugely beneficial. Then we all have a huge energy store that can contribute to grid and power distribution which can also only be a good thing.
One challenge I can see is for recovery trucks and businesses. What can they do? More need for a laptop than a scanner! No jump starts, towing, fuel fill ups and all that hassle!
