What is special about dual clutch transmission?
While manual transmission has the disadvantage of not creating a smooth feeling when shifting gears and automatic transmission has a complex structure and consumes fuel, dual clutch transmission (DCT) or semi-automatic transmission can eliminate the disadvantages of both types above.
The German carmaker Porsche invented the dual-clutch transmission technology, called PDK (Porsche Dopelkupplungsgetriebe). In 1983, the manufacturer integrated PDK into the Porsche 956 racing car, which won its first race with the Porsche 962 in 1986. Now, PDK can be found in all of the company's models, from the Boxster to the Carrera 4S.
Then, dual clutch (commonly known as DCT) became more and more popular, Ford was one of the first mainstream car manufacturers to adopt this technology called PowerShift.
Porsche created PDK with the main goal of shortening the gearshift time and optimizing the operation between the gearbox and the engine. Ford, on the other hand, has a simpler mission of aiming at fuel economy and compactness.
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Dual clutch transmissions operate on the same transmission principle as manual transmissions. But the clutches here are wet friction clutches, meaning that the friction plates are immersed in oil and their separation and connection are controlled by actuators: hydraulic - electromagnetic. These two clutches operate completely independently of each other, one controls the odd-numbered gears (1, 3, 5 and reverse gear), while the other clutch is responsible for controlling the even-numbered gears (2, 4 and reverse).
With such a structure, when the process of increasing the number (1 - 2 - 3...) or decreasing the number (5 - 4) takes place, there will be no loss of power. At the same time, the gears are automatically engaged depending on the engine's operating mode and the road resistance (if the driver chooses fully automatic mode). Therefore, it always ensures the traction force is suitable for the movement resistance, ensuring the dynamic quality and fuel economy of the car.
With the above structure, the dual-clutch gearbox has the advantage of shifting gears in a short time, fast shifting speed, creating a more exciting and sporty driving feeling. However, this type of gearbox is only popular on luxury sports cars with a complex design, making the cost not small. In addition, some car manufacturers trying to use dual-clutch gearboxes on popular cars have encountered some defects when drivers found that DCT shifting gears is not as smooth as they expected. In addition, there is a slight delay in selecting the next gear, especially when you try to accelerate at low speeds.