Despite the attempts of various car manufacturers, manual transmissions are gradually disappearing. As electric vehicles continue to flood the market, most companies appear to prefer introducing electric models rather than manual ones in their offerings. With only a few exceptions available, a combination of both is unlikely in the near future, signaling an imminent end for the third pedal in the United States. In line with this trend, Nissan is now seeking to remove yet another pedal from its electric vehicles. The upcoming version of the popular Nissan Leaf will feature a unique 2-in-1 accelerator pedal designed to simplify city driving.
On Wednesday, Nissan shared further information about the 2018 Nissan Leaf, spotlighting an innovative feature known as the e-Pedal. The new Leaf is already equipped with many advanced technologies, but Nissan appears particularly excited about this pedal. By activating a switch on the center console, drivers can transform the accelerator into a multifunctional control that accelerates, decelerates, and keeps the vehicle stationary with just a subtle movement of their foot.
To accelerate, drivers can press the pedal as they would with a traditional gas pedal, but easing off will reduce speed instantly, and fully lifting off will stop the vehicle at low speeds. While this doesn’t render the brake pedal entirely unnecessary, the e-Pedal aims to simplify the experience of navigating through stop-and-go city traffic.
Adapting to this new technology may take some time, and there are still doubts regarding its practicality and intuitiveness as claimed by Nissan. Nevertheless, coupled with promises of semi-autonomous capabilities in traffic, Nissan’s Leaf could be an excellent option for urban driving.
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