What are the advantages and disadvantages of CVT transmission?

CVT transmission control lever on Toyota Corolla

More than 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci came up with the idea for the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Unlike a traditional transmission, a CVT does not have gears that create gear ratios. CVTs typically operate on a system of pulleys and belts that allow for continuous, stepless shifting without separate gears.

Most CVTs have three basic components: a high-capacity metal or rubber belt, a variable input pulley system that connects to the engine's rotating shaft, and an output pulley system that leads to the wheels.

CVTs also have microprocessors and sensors to monitor and control, but the three main elements above are the key factors that allow this idea to become a reality.

The CVT automatic transmission gives the driver the same driving experience as cars equipped with automatic transmissions, but the operating principle is completely different. The CVT automatic transmission does not have any gears. Therefore, this transmission is very smooth when shifting gears, which can significantly increase fuel economy.

In theory, a car with a CVT can reach 100 km/h 25% faster than a car with the same engine but a conventional transmission. Because the CVT converts all points on the engine's operating characteristics into corresponding points on its operating characteristics.

With a design and operation based on an extremely simple principle, when using a CVT gearbox, there are very few technical problems, simple repairs and repair costs are certainly lower than with conventional automatic transmission technologies.

The most noticeable disadvantage of this type of car gearbox is actually the advantage of this type of gearbox. The driving feeling from the operating principle of the gearbox is that there is no gear shifting process, making the car operate smoothly. This makes the driver's acceleration process not exciting. This makes the driver more interested in the feeling of driving in the imagination than the real driving "feeling of reality".

In addition, CVT belts can also slip and stretch, reducing performance. The biggest weakness of CVTs is that they cannot handle high torque, so they are not suitable for sports cars. However, the simplicity of CVTs makes them ideal for motorcycles. Hybrid cars with CVTs are also popular, and this transmission is used in the Toyota Prius.