Oilstainlab electric sports car: manual gearbox, Half-11 prototype and price expectations
Oilstainlab is exploring a more affordable electric sports car with a clutch and real gears. Its Half-11 prototype shows why driver engagement comes before outright pace.
Most electric-car makers try to eliminate unnecessary mechanical parts, but US-based Oilstainlab wants to go in the opposite direction. It is developing a more affordable electric sports car and considering a real manual gearbox. Co-founder Nikita Bridan has acknowledged that such a transmission might be slower than a conventional single-speed electric drivetrain.
In an October 15 interview with CarBuzz, Bridan discussed plans for a lightweight electric sports car designed to preserve the feel of driving a traditional performance car. The firm wants to apply lessons from its HF-11 hypercar to something substantially less expensive. No definitive power, weight or performance figures have been released.
The defining idea is a proper manual transmission with a clutch. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, for comparison, simulates an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox by changing motor torque through software. Oilstainlab is interested in actual gears that the driver shifts independently.
The idea has already been tested on the experimental Half-11. According to Bridan, the converted electric prototype weighed about 840 kg, used a lightweight battery and featured a genuine clutch-operated manual transmission. Gear changes came with authentic mechanical sounds rather than computer-generated simulations.
In a 2025 FUTR.tv interview, the co-founder openly said the arrangement could make an EV slower than a single-speed drivetrain. The team is knowingly prioritizing mechanical feedback and driver involvement over absolute efficiency.
Cost is another question. The company's first hypercar, the HF-11, starts at $1.85 million. For its next model, CarBuzz discusses a possible $150,000–$200,000 price bracket. Bridan hopes to keep the price in six figures, ideally below $200,000, but the manufacturer has not announced an official price.
Building the new car will also require a different production strategy. Instead of commissioning almost every component individually, Oilstainlab plans to work with suppliers and manufacturing partners. That should make the project easier to scale than the exclusive HF-11.
The company aims to expand production gradually without abandoning exclusivity. Final specifications, initial production volume, investment and launch timing remain undisclosed. The HF-11 is still its main project, and its development experience is expected to inform the less expensive electric sports car.