Affordably Priced and Environmentally Friendly Automotive Technology
Despite the fact that hybrid vehicles are all the rage and that there are a plethora of alternative energy sources on the horizon, hybrids are prohibitively expensive, often costing between $3000 and $7000 more than the gas-only version of the same model. Instead of switching to a different fuel, several automobile firms have been experimenting with a new kind of gearbox to increase fuel efficiency, reduce pollutants, and even make vehicles quicker without increasing the price of the vehicle.
These companies are employing a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which, rather than having fixed gear ratios (or gears), continuously varies the gear ratios as well as the engine performance to ensure that they both operate at their most efficient levels in any driving scenario, regardless of the driving conditions.
Because these critical components of the power train are operating at optimum efficiency at all times, fuel economy is increased by 6-8 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions are decreased by 10 percent, according to the manufacturer.
Although these numbers may not seem to be significant, the gas savings improve the highway mileage of most cars by 4 to 6 miles per gallon, which adds up fast when gas is $3 per gallon on average.
The CVT has the ability to reduce emissions in a substantial way as well. Following the words of Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Nissan Motor Company, selling one million CVT-equipped cars by the end of 2007 would have “the same impact on CO2 emissions reduction as selling 200,000 hybrid electric vehicles,” according to Ghosn.
In addition, since there is no changing between set ratios, there is no “shift shock” or jerking feeling, which results in an extremely smooth driving experience. Furthermore, CVTs perform well in steep terrain since there is no “gear hunting” or bogging down on a slope, followed by a loud, abrupt downshift, which also adds to the vehicle’s better acceleration.
You may be asking why this isn’t standard equipment in every vehicle if it’s so good. Because many people are wary of new technology, particularly in automobiles, more and more vehicles on the American market are being equipped with CVTs each year. However, this has occurred discreetly as many people are wary of new technology in general.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is really very ancient, despite the fact that it is new to American cars. Developed by Leonardo DaVinci in the late 1800s for industrial uses, the idea was originally patented in the late 1800s. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been in use in Asian and European vehicles since the 1950s, but until recently, CVTs were unable to manage the amount of power that American drivers demanded from their automobiles. CVTs, on the other hand, have found extensive usage in snowmobiles and Formula 500 racing, where they have earned a reputation for prolonging engine life and being much simpler to repair than either a manual or automatic step gearbox, respectively.
So, where can you go to have a test drive in a car with a CVT? You may visit dealerships that offer Ford, Dodge, Audi, or Mini-Cooper vehicles, to mention a few. However, a Nissan dealership may be the ideal location to start your research. As part of their effort to reach their target of one million CVT sales in 2007, Nissan has put CVTs in almost every car in their range, including the best-selling Altima and Maxima, as well as the more affordable Versa (as a side note, Nissan has also made side curtain airbags standard in these models, improving safety and reducing insurance costs).
Although you may not be able to afford a hybrid vehicle or wait for the miracle fuel to become available, you can help the environment while also saving money by looking into a few vehicles that feature a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
