Continuously Variable Transmissions Have Come a Long Way
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a type of automatic transmission that provides more useable power, better fuel economy, and a smoother driving experience. This is the lesser-known alternative to a conventional transmission. You operate it the same way you would a regular one, slide the gear shift from “P” to “D”, but after that, it gets a bit more complicated.
The CVT is by no means a new concept. Leonardo Da Vinci drew an example of one in the 16th century. Daimler-Benz is responsible for filing the first patent for this technology in 1886. The transmission fell out of favor for automobiles early on, but were used for over a century in industrial applications such as drilling operations, and more recently in boats and snowmobiles. The CVT made its comeback when automakers began searching for ways to make their vehicles more fuel efficient. In the 1989 model year, Subaru reintroduced this technology in the US market in the first modern automotive CVT on the subcompact Justy.
How Are CVT’s Different from Conventional Transmissions?
Traditional automatics have a set number of gears that are referred to as speeds (i.e. 6-speed transmission). Each gear is responsible for a specific speed, so as you keep accelerating, the transmissions needs to shift gears – first gear, then second, and so on. However, a continuously variable transmission doesn’t use gears at all. It is like having one magical gear that works across all driving situations. This is the reason that you don’t feel a vehicle with a CVT shift gears; you’ll only notices the change in speed or RPM.
We’re not done yet. The CVT serves up extremely efficient engine speed for each driving situation you may encounter, and then keeps it constant even while the vehicle is accelerating. A good example is in a passing scenario. The CVT knows that the optimal engine speed is rather high (around 5,000 RPM on the tachometer), so it shoots you up there as soon as your foot hits the pedal. But even as you increase your vehicle speed (from 50 MPH to 60 MPH), the engine speed stays the same!
Advantages and Disadvantages of a CVT
Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to a continuously variable transmission. The main advantage of a CVT is that it can vary its gear ratio infinitely as vehicle speed changes. The benefit to this is that it can keep the engine at its peak power producing RPM when maximum acceleration is demanded by the driver, and it keeps the engine at lower RPM often for better efficiency when maximum acceleration is not needed. This type of transmission also improves emission control and produces less greenhouse gas emissions because of improved control of the engine’s speed range. One of the biggest advantages reported by drivers is how smooth and comfortable the ride is.
Driving a vehicle with a CVT is a very different experience than the traditional transmission owner is used to. Because you do not feel the engine accelerating, you do not feel any shifting. Instead, you feel the engine racing as it would when the transmission is failing or the clutch is slipping, but this is just the CVT adjusting itself to provide the optimal power. A CVT is more expensive than a traditional automatic. They also require special oil and other materials when they are being serviced or worked on.
The future of the CVT is very promising as it is being used in more and more vehicles on the market. You can now find them in cars produced by Jeep, Nissan, and Honda to name a few. Nearly 95% of all new vehicles manufactured has an automatic transmission, and among those more than 10% now have CVT’s. So, if you are in the market for a new vehicle, or you will be within the next few years, this is a concept you should familiarize yourself with since we will almost certainly be seeing them more and experiencing their benefits as cars evolve.
Schedule an appointment at your preferred AAMCO Minnesota location. We love all things transmission related and look forward to helping you learn how your transmission works, how to diagnose issues, and how to keep your vehicle properly maintained.
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