Have you heard the argument about manual transmissions vs automatics? Car enthusiasts love to argue endlessly over the superiority of one of the other. Which one offers a better driving experience? Which one allows for faster acceleration?
Lost in the noise is the constant variable transmission. Rising in popularity, the CVT is gaining traction among manufacturers as it offers benefits that the other two options can't match.
To learn more about CVT transmissions pros and cons, as well as how they work, keep reading.
Always in the Right Gear
In the early days of engine development, it was realized that adding different gear ratios allowed a greater range of torque. Engines could produce more power at lower speeds.
A transmission was added to allow the driver to select the right gear for power output. Slow speeds were achieved at lower gears, and higher speeds were paired to higher gears. A manual stickshift was the original way to select these gears.
Over time, automatic transmission technology advanced. Onboard computers would change gears based on the engines power band. If the revs were too low, it would downshift. If the engine spun too quickly, it would upshift.
As automatics became quicker and more efficient, they began to dominate the marketplace. The convenience they offered was inarguable, as drivers no longer needed to balance the clutch with the accelerator to keep from stalling.
Enthusiasts often argue that automating the transmission has lessened the driving experience. Instead of being dialed into the engine's performance, drivers can now trust the vehicle to select the correct gear itself.
Manufacturers have especially taken to this concept with fuel efficiency being a major focus. Being able to dictate where an engine sits in its powerband allows engineers to get better fuel mileage from their vehicles.
Available in commercial vehicles since 1989, CVTs took this idea a step further. Instead of changing gears, they eliminated the need for gears altogether.
How CVTs Work
Instead of a series of gears, with a transmission to select between them, CVTs feature a unique approach. They use pulleys that feature a variable-width and are connected by a belt.
One pulley runs from the engine, the other to the wheels. As one pully increases in size, the other gets smaller, keeping the engine spinning in its ideal range.
Because CVTs allow the engine to stay within a defined range, engines are more fuel-efficient. Conventional transmissions can't offer that, as they need a larger powerband. CVTs don't have the high-revs that acceleration demands of a gear-based automatic.
As well, since the vehicle doesn't need to change gears, the driving experience is smoother. Switching between gears creates a disruption in the engine's performance. This causes a noticeable sensation that CVTs don't.
Another major benefit to CVTs is that they're much less complex, mechanically. They need fewer parts, meaning they're cheaper to manufacture and lighter in weight. They also offer fewer points of failure as they aren't as sophisticated as automatics.
Reading through the above, you might be wondering why not all cars have switched to CVTs. The truth is, though, that they do still offer some challenges that can make them less desirable to buyers.
First of all, despite their relatively simple design, they can still be expensive to repair. That's because, if there is an issue, often the entire case needs to be replaced.
Because the pulleys are connected to the engine, they're under a lot of stress. Too much torque and the belt can slip, causing the wheels to lose power. This can lead to deterioration of the belt or chain can be damaged, the transmission fluid can be contaminated by the debris.
As for the driving experience, many find it an odd experience as the sensation is different than that in other cars. Since the engine spins at a more consistent speed, the engine note doesn't vary, making it difficult to feel the engine's performance.
Another complaint is that the transmission can take a moment to respond when starting from a standstill. That's because the CVT needs to adjust to the engine before sending power to the wheels.
What to Look for
If you're considering a vehicle with a CVT, it's important to know what to look for.
The first thing to do is to switch between drive, park, and reverse. Look for any hesitation between changes and take note if it takes time for the transmission to reengage.
Drive at various speeds and listen for any undesirable noises. Squeaks or rattles should be noted, as should any losses in power. Also, bring the vehicle to a steady speed and watch for variations in the engine revs.
Any jerkiness or power loss is cause for concern. You should expect that the CVT is smooth and unnoticeable. Abruptness, inconsistencies, and abnormal noises are all warning signs.
CVTs vs Automatic Transmissions
The question is, then, should you choose a CVT or an automatic? Manual transmissions aren't really an option anymore, with only 20% of cars offering a stick in 2018.
Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards getting stricter. Many automatics are now featuring eight or even nine gear transmissions to achieve these targets. This is to help keep the engine in its most efficient range.
That means that modern automatics are constantly changing gears to accommodate the engines speed. This can lead to a jerky ride as the vehicle struggles to find the right gear, based on driving conditions.
CVTs, however, are improving with each generation. Different manufacturers are taking different approaches to manage higher torque without slipping. As well, some companies are including shift-modes that allow the driver to choose the right "gear." These modes allow the driver to manipulate the CVT to allow for higher revs.
Final Thoughts on CVT Transmissions Pros and Cons
The constant variable transmission offers a clear benefit over automatics. It's a more efficient way of managing an engine's fuel economy while getting the most power. Engineers can move past the limitations of gear-based transmissions.
If you're wondering if a CVT is right for your next vehicle, the best thing you can do is drive one. Knowing the CVT transmissions pros and cons is the first step. Comparing one with an automatic will let you know if it's something that you're willing to adapt to or not. That is if you even notice it.
Je, umesikia mjadala kuhusu transmissions mwongozo dhidi ya moja kwa moja? Wanasayansi wa magari wanapenda kubishana juu ya ubora wa magari. Ni ipi inayotoa uzoefu bora wa kuendesha gari? Ni ipi inayoruhusu kuharakisha kwa kasi zaidi? Kupoteza katika kelele ni utoaji wa mara kwa mara variable. CVT inaongezeka katika umaarufu, na inapata traction kati ya wazalishaji kwa sababu inatoa faida ambazo chaguzi nyingine mbili haziwezi kulinganisha. Ili kujua zaidi kuhusu CVT, faida na hasara, na jinsi inavyofanya kazi, endelea kusoma. Katika siku za mwanzo za maendeleo ya injini, iligunduliwa kwamba kuongeza uwiano tofauti wa gia iliruhusu mbalimbali kubwa ya torque. Injini zingeweza kutokeza nguvu zaidi kwa mwendo wa chini. Gari-moshi liliongezwa ili kumruhusu dereva achague gia inayofaa kwa ajili ya pato la nguvu. Kasi ya polepole ilifikiwa katika gia za chini, na kasi ya juu ilifanywa pamoja na gia za juu. Njia ya awali ya kuchagua gia hizo ilikuwa kwa kutumia kijiti cha mkono. Baada ya muda, teknolojia ya kuhamisha magari kwa moja kwa moja iliboresha. Kompyuta za ndani ya gari zilibadilisha gia kulingana na kipimo cha nguvu cha injini. Ikiwa mzunguko ulikuwa wa chini sana, ungepunguza mwendo. Ikiwa injini ingezunguka haraka sana, ingeongeza mwendo. Kadiri vifaa vya kiotomatiki vilivyokuwa vya haraka zaidi na vyenye ufanisi zaidi, ndivyo vilivyoanza kutawala soko. Uwezo waliotoa haukuwa na ubishi, kwa kuwa madereva hawakuwa tena na uhitaji wa kusawazisha clutch na gesi ili kuepuka kukwama. Mara nyingi wapenzi wanasema kwamba kugeuza gari kuwa la kiotomatiki kumepunguza uzoefu wa kuendesha gari. Badala ya kuelekezwa kwenye utendaji wa injini, sasa madereva wanaweza kuamini kwamba gari litachagua gia sahihi yenyewe. Watengenezaji hasa wamechukua dhana hii na ufanisi wa mafuta kuwa lengo kuu. Kuwa na uwezo wa kuamua mahali ambapo injini inakaa katika nguvu yake inaruhusu wahandisi kupata mileage bora ya mafuta kutoka kwa magari yao. Kwa kuwa CVT imekuwa inapatikana katika magari ya kibiashara tangu 1989, wazo hili liliendelea hatua moja zaidi. Badala ya kubadilisha gia, waliondoa kabisa uhitaji wa gia. CVT ni aina ya gari ambayo ina gear mbalimbali, na ina uwezo wa kuchagua kati ya gear mbalimbali. Wao hutumia pulleys ambazo zina upana unaobadilika-badilika na zimeunganishwa kwa mkanda. Puli moja huelekea kwenye injini, na nyingine huelekea kwenye magurudumu. Kadiri pully moja inavyoongezeka kwa ukubwa, ile nyingine inazidi kuwa ndogo, ikifanya injini iendelee kuzunguka katika mwendo wake unaofaa. Kwa sababu CVT inaruhusu injini kubaki ndani ya mbalimbali maalum, injini ni zaidi ya mafuta-efficient. Transmissions kawaida hawawezi kutoa kwamba, kama wao haja kubwa powerband. CVT ni moja ya injini za kasi zaidi za kuendesha gari, na inahitaji kasi ya juu ya automatiska. Pia, kwa kuwa gari halihitaji kubadili gia, uzoefu wa kuendesha gari ni laini zaidi. Kubadilisha kati ya gia husababisha usumbufu katika utendaji wa injini. Hii ni kwa sababu ya hali ya kawaida ya CVT. Faida nyingine kubwa ya CVT ni kwamba ni rahisi zaidi. Wanahitaji sehemu chache, ikimaanisha ni za bei nafuu kutengenezwa na ni nyepesi. Pia hutoa pointi chache za kushindwa kwa kuwa si za kisasa kama za kiotomatiki. Kwa kusoma makala hii, unaweza kuwa na wasiwasi kwamba ni kwa nini magari hayajaanza kutumia CVT. Hata hivyo, ukweli ni kwamba bado zina changamoto fulani ambazo zinaweza kuwafanya wasiwe wenye kupendeza kwa wanunuzi. Kwanza kabisa, licha ya muundo wao rahisi, bado wanaweza kuwa ghali kurekebisha. Hiyo ni kwa sababu, kama kuna suala, mara nyingi kesi nzima inahitaji kubadilishwa. Kwa sababu pulleys ni kushikamana na injini, wao ni chini ya mkazo mwingi. Torque nyingi sana na ukanda unaweza kuteleza, na kusababisha magurudumu kupoteza nguvu. Hii inaweza kusababisha uharibifu wa ukanda au mnyororo inaweza kuharibiwa, maji ya usafirishaji inaweza kuchafuliwa na mabaki. Kwa uzoefu wa kuendesha gari, wengi huona kuwa uzoefu wa ajabu kwani hisia ni tofauti na ile katika magari mengine. Kwa kuwa injini inazunguka kwa kasi ya kawaida, noti ya injini haitofautiani, na hivyo inakuwa vigumu kuhisi utendaji wa injini. Malalamiko mengine ni kwamba maambukizi inaweza kuchukua muda kujibu wakati wa kuanza kutoka kusimamishwa. CVT inahitaji kurekebisha injini kabla ya kutuma nguvu kwa magurudumu. Ikiwa unafikiria gari lenye CVT, ni muhimu kujua nini cha kuangalia. Jambo la kwanza la kufanya ni kubadili kati ya kuendesha gari, kuegesha gari, na kurudi nyuma. Angalia kwa ajili ya kusita yoyote kati ya mabadiliko na kuchukua kumbuka kama inachukua muda kwa ajili ya uhamisho wa kuunganisha tena. Kuendesha gari kwa kasi tofauti na kusikiliza kwa kelele yoyote isiyofaa. Sauti za kupiga kelele au za kupiga kelele zapasa kutajwa, kama vile hasara zozote za nguvu. Pia, fanya gari liende kwa mwendo thabiti na uangalie mabadiliko katika mzunguko wa injini. Uharibifu wowote wa nguvu au kupoteza nguvu ni sababu ya wasiwasi. Unapaswa kutarajia kwamba CVT ni laini na unnoticeable. Ukali, kutopatana, na kelele zisizo za kawaida ni ishara zote za onyo. CVT vs Automatic Transmission: Je, ni lazima kuchagua CVT au Automatic Transmission? Kwa sasa, hakuna njia ya kugeuza mwongozo wa gari, na ni asilimia 20 tu ya magari ambayo yanatoa kijiti cha mwongozo. Viwango vya wastani wa uchumi wa mafuta (CAFE) vya kampuni vinakuwa vikali zaidi. Sasa magari mengi ya kiotomatiki yana gia nane au hata tisa ili kufikia miradi hiyo. Hii ni kusaidia kuweka injini katika mbalimbali yake ya ufanisi zaidi. Hilo lamaanisha kwamba mashine za kisasa za kiotomatiki hubadilisha gia daima ili kukabiliana na mwendo wa injini. Hii inaweza kusababisha safari jerky kama gari anajitahidi kupata gear haki, kulingana na hali ya kuendesha gari. Hata hivyo, CVT zinaboreshwa kila kizazi. Watengenezaji tofauti ni kuchukua mbinu tofauti ya kusimamia torque ya juu bila kuingizwa. Pia, makampuni fulani yanajumuisha njia za kubadili mwendo ambazo humruhusu dereva kuchagua "gear" inayofaa. Hali hizi kuruhusu dereva kudhibiti CVT kuruhusu revs ya juu. Mawazo ya mwisho juu ya CVT Transmissions Faida na hasara Transmission mara kwa mara kutofautiana inatoa faida wazi juu ya moja kwa moja. Ni njia bora zaidi ya kusimamia uchumi wa mafuta ya injini wakati wa kupata nguvu zaidi. Wahandisi wanaweza kupita mipaka ya transmissions gear-msingi. Ikiwa unajiuliza ikiwa CVT ni sahihi kwa gari lako la pili, jambo bora unaweza kufanya ni kuendesha moja. Kujua faida na hasara za maambukizi ya CVT ni hatua ya kwanza. Kulinganisha moja na moja ya moja kwa moja itakuruhusu kujua kama ni kitu kwamba wewe ni tayari kukabiliana na au la. Hiyo ni kama wewe hata kumbuka ni.