Learning to drive in a EV?

[Acorn1]

Following a learner driver yesterday on their lesson, the instructors car was some sort of Kia electric vehicle.

Made me wonder if it's like learning to drive in an auto, meaning you can't drive a manual.

Obviously the EV will be auto, so will they only be able to drive an auto EV when they pass, or can they also drive an ICE car?

[J4CKO]

Yes, they would be learning for an automatic only license so would only be permitted to drive automatics.

Will be increasingly prevalent as EV’s become more the default option.

The gearbox is really a bit of a bodge to get the internal combustion engine to work given its torque delivery characteristics.

I prefer a manual, I prefer IC but can totally see how it’s a pretty sub standard method to move a vehicle, compèred to an electric motor.

[Acuity30]

I think if you're learning to drive, driving a manual isn't much more of a learning curve than an auto. Most of it comes down to road positioning, getting a feel for the car, where it starts and ends and just building confidence around other vehicles. Back when I did my test I had to follow the assessors directions, do an emergency stop, reverse round a corner, parallel park and I think reverse bay park. I hear these days they have to go on the motorway and follow a sat nav.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Acuity30 said:

I think if you're learning to drive, driving a manual isn't much more of a learning curve than an auto.

It is for some people. Learning to drive auto only will almost certainly mean fewer lessons so cheaper. And I think many people passing today will never drive anything else.

[anonymous-user]

Both my daughters chose to learn in an auto, judging (correctly) that they will only ever need to drive EVs within a few years. One of them started in a manual but soon changed her mind. They both passed 1st time, with 10 and 2 formal lessons each. No question it made learning easier and quicker the one who drove both was clear about that (she’s a very bright capable girl who could easily have coped learning manual but she said ‘why bother?’)

It will make the cost of their 1st cheap car more, but it’s less likely to be knackered being auto and for them I’m sure it was sensible.

[Acuity30]

Tobermory said:

less likely to be knackered being auto

???

[The Wookie]

I think the days of the auto only license are numbered

HGV’s dropped the requirement when manual trucks started becoming scarce, I passed my C+E in an auto truck and I’m actively going to practice driving a manual with a mate who has a manual truck.

Many race team trucks are older so I’m likely to get in one with an Eaton splitter at some point and not have a fking clue

[TooLateForAName]

Acuity30 said:

I think if you're learning to drive, driving a manual isn't much more of a learning curve than an auto. Most of it comes down to road positioning, getting a feel for the car, where it starts and ends and just building confidence around other vehicles.

Disagree.

Lots of people find the use of a manual box a hinderance.
clutch bite points, gearbox feel, speed matching, etc.
If you learn in an urban area then you will be constantly up and down the box in busy traffic.

Learning in an auto has to be much easier. You can concentrate on the 'strategic' stuff without having to manage the distractions. No risk of stalling

And I have to agree that for new learners now why would they bother? All cars are going to be EV soon enough.

[Bobtherallyfan]

TooLateForAName said:

And I have to agree that for new learners now why would they bother? All cars are going to be EV soon enough.

So what first car are learner drivers going to be able to afford. Nobody makes decent small automatics and they won’t be any cheap EVs for years. Plus when they go abroad, EVs aren’t going to exist in many countries of the world.

[sixor8]

All NEW cars will be EVs, a high proportion will be manual for many years.

I noted when my friend moved to the USA over 20 yrs ago that there is no distinction. You can take a driving test in an auto and you just get a licence; you can drive up to a high tonnage and 'stick-shift' too. Driving standards overall though.

[NDA]

TooLateForAName said:

Disagree.

Lots of people find the use of a manual box a hinderance.
clutch bite points, gearbox feel, speed matching, etc.
If you learn in an urban area then you will be constantly up and down the box in busy traffic.

Learning in an auto has to be much easier. You can concentrate on the 'strategic' stuff without having to manage the distractions. No risk of stalling

And I have to agree that for new learners now why would they bother? All cars are going to be EV soon enough.

I agree. Learning to drive for me (and probably most) was something I thought I'd never master - only because of gear and clutch operation... hill starts particularly!

I did pass first time, but it was a sweaty experience. My kids don't drive yet, but I'd probably suggest an auto - much as I like manual boxes, I can't see them surviving other than for specialist sports cars.

[theboss]

Some will learn manual, others auto/EV

Right now I suspect there is more demand for EV learning than is currently provided.

My wife learned in a manual and got straight into an EV, hasn’t driven a manual since her test.

Not all learner drivers are skint 17-18 year olds.

[Zero Fuchs]

A manual is becoming a bit pointless for most but am currently teaching my daughter to drive manual because it's a worthwhile skill. She's a bit of a petrolhead anyway (rare with kids nowadays) so will need the license if she wants to drive my MR2 or whatever I buy next.

But she's also driving the i3 as there's a skill to one pedal driving and driving a car with a single gear. Not as much obviously but it's worth being familiar with a few different cars.

[sixor8]

Even my latest base model Panda has hill start assist. Perhaps even the hill start check isn't required.

I admit I struggled with clutch control as a learner, back in 1983. I used to kangaroo sometimes. Bless the adaption of diesel cars, I passed my test in a 1984 Fiesta Diesel, must have been one of the earliest ones, so much torque you couldn't really stall it setting off.

[HappySilver]

Bobtherallyfan said:

So what first car are learner drivers going to be able to afford. Nobody makes decent small automatics and they won’t be any cheap EVs for years. Plus when they go abroad, EVs aren’t going to exist in many countries of the world.

My wife has a Kia Picanto auto, it certainly isn’t a ‘drivers’ car but would be perfectly adequate first car for a new driver. When we were looking for a car for her to pootle around in I was surprised by the number of auto threeish year old small cars available. I actually like driving it too.

[sixor8]

Even my latest base model Panda has hill start assist. Perhaps even the hill start check isn't required.

I admit I struggled with clutch control as a learner, back in 1983. I used to kangaroo sometimes. Bless the adaption of diesel cars, I passed my test in a 1984 Fiesta Diesel, must have been one of the earliest ones, so much torque you couldn't really stall it setting off.

[cerb4.5lee]

I enjoy driving autos and manuals, but I will admit that I did find driving an EV a bit weird though. The throttle was like an on/off switch, plus I didn't like how the car would nose dive forward when you took your foot off the throttle because of the braking regeneration(you can turn that off I believe though).

I've followed a few EVs now and they all seem to do that nose dive forward thing, but I found it properly annoying though. I guess that you just get used to it over time, or you just switch it off instead.

[NDNDNDND]

I suspect for average kids of average parents earning average money the manual test will remain relevant for a good few years to come.

Plus, in my experience, the people who have auto-only licences do so because they're terrible at driving. Isn't it also still the case that an auto-only licence attracts a higher insurance premium as they're considered higher-risk drivers?

[Hoofy]

The problem might come when you have an accident and the only courtesy car that the bodyshop has is a 1.0 manual because your insurance company isn't supplying a like for like car. I suppose you can rely on another vehicle that only has one gear - a train.

[Mark V GTD]

TooLateForAName said:

Disagree.

Lots of people find the use of a manual box a hinderance.
clutch bite points, gearbox feel, speed matching, etc.

Totally agree - I remember learning in the 80's and in the first few lessons it was a big distraction from simply learning to drive the car safely.