Evolution of automotive transmissions: Increased efficiency through increased gear count
The evolution of automobile transmissions is truly revolutionary. Many experienced drivers fondly remember the days when cars only had four gears. Mechanical transmissions were traditionally limited to six gears. This is because manually changing gears beyond that limit is impractical. However, the situation changed completely with the advent of automatic transmissions. 7-speed gears have become standard, and now cars with 8-, 9-, and even 10-speed gears are not uncommon.
Benefits of additional gear
Article by Velocitos We delve into the benefits of additional gears and highlight how they facilitate better utilization of engine power. This delicate balance between torque and fuel efficiency is the key to an efficient driving experience. Since the engine becomes less dynamic due to its smaller size, increasing the number of gears can compensate for this deficiency, allowing the engine to operate efficiently at different speeds.
Practical constraints and progress
Practical constraints limit the number of gears in mechanical design, especially for compact cars, but automotive advances continue to push these limits. His 10-speed gearbox in the Ford Ranger Raptor is a testament to his constant commitment to improving performance. However, this article suggests that the future of transmissions may lie in continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), which provide an infinite number of gears by constantly adjusting to the load.
CVT: forward or backward?
Despite their complexity and manufacturing challenges, CVTs can be the perfect solution, especially for true hybrids. However, European manufacturers mostly stick to traditional stepped transmissions even in hybrids, while CVTs are mainly installed in Japanese models such as Toyota hybrids and some Ford hybrid models. As we navigate this exciting era of automotive innovation, the debate continues as to whether CVT is a breakthrough or a step backward from the proven reliability of traditional transmissions.