ponderingturtle
Orthogonal Vector
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2006
- Messages
- 54,545
The Model T, like many tractors, approximates one pedal driving because although it has a hand throttle, it has enough torque that you don't have to feather it to take off. A tractor is generally set to a given engine speed for the PTO, and you choose the gear for traveling speed. Modern tractors with automatic transmissions come even closer, since road speed is governed by the pedals (one forward, one reverse), and braking is rarely needed.
One pedal driving should be pretty simple on a vehicle that does not idle, has no clutch, and needs no transmission. Or one lever, which ought to be a real boon to handicapped drivers.
Makes me think it is kind of weird that my Prius with a continuously variable transmission and an engine that turns off when not needed to power something does not function in this way. Likely legacy in how they thought the controls should work.