Käigukangell

Käigukangell, a term originating from Estonian, literally translates to "gear lever." It refers to the component within a vehicle that a driver uses to select and engage different gears of the transmission. This selection process dictates the vehicle's speed and torque output. In manual transmission vehicles, the käigukangell is a physical lever that the driver moves through a specific pattern of gates to shift gears. Automatic transmissions may also have a käigukangell, though its function is to select modes like Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, or sometimes lower gears, with the transmission shifting internally without direct driver input for each gear change. The design and placement of the käigukangell can vary significantly between different vehicle models, influencing the driving experience and ergonomics. Modern vehicles are also exploring alternative methods for gear selection, such as push buttons or rotary dials, but the traditional käigukangell remains a prominent feature in many automotive designs. Understanding the function of the käigukangell is fundamental to operating any vehicle with a manual or automatic transmission.