Hot take: Single-pedal drive is the EV version of a manual transmission

General
1

I was raised on cars. My dad was a career mechanic and rebuilt maybe a dozen classic cars on the side. My first ride was a '65 Mustang, which he restored with me. I only drove manual transmission cars for the first couple of decades of my driving life (until my commute became too long for my left leg). Now, I have an EV. I love the quietness, the modernity, and charging at home.

I’ve come to the conclusion that single-pedal drive mode is the EV version of a manual transmission. It’s the closest to being directly connected to the motor. You control how much regenerative braking you get at all times, and adjust how much ‘sport’ or ‘efficiency’ you want in real-time. When I first heard about it, I thought it was a gimmick. Now that I’ve used it, I think it’s the most engaging way to drive an EV. It feels like you have more direct control over the car.

2

I think the instant torque and one-pedal driving make the car feel like an extension of my body. When I want it to go faster, it’s instant. When I want to slow down, it’s instant.

3

MAKENA said:
I think the instant torque and one-pedal driving make the car feel like an extension of my body. When I want it to go faster, it’s instant. When I want to slow down, it’s instant.

Exactly. I love a manual transmission because you’re working with the machine and its limitations. But one-pedal driving is like you’re just controlling it with grace and precision. It’s a different kind of engagement, but both are great.

4

This is why I laugh when people say EVs are soulless. The powertrain makes the car feel so responsive and connected. It’s next level in terms of interaction.

5

You can like one-pedal driving without trying to justify it as a ‘purer’ form of driving. It’s just a preference, and that’s okay.

6

This is my feeling too. I have so much more control with one-pedal driving than with a traditional setup. It feels more precise.

7

One-pedal driving is one of the main reasons I could never go back to an ICE car. It’s so comfortable once you get used to it.

8

I also agree with this. I drove manuals for a decade, and one-pedal EV driving makes way more sense to me than an automatic.

9

I drive both a manual and an EV, and I don’t see how one-pedal driving compares to a manual transmission. It feels much closer to driving an automatic.

10

Honestly, I don’t like one-pedal driving because it doesn’t let me coast like I would in a manual car. It just doesn’t work for me.

11

Regen braking is like engine braking in a manual car, but that’s about where the similarity ends for me. The two driving styles feel pretty different overall.