[ausev] CVT transmissions?

[Arnaud LACOUR]

it would certainly be possible but the principle behind CVTs is friction and
that doesn't go too well with:
1. saving energy
2. high torques

Picture 2 cones, one pointing up and the other down, with a rubber belt
between them and a "fork" guiding the belt from one end to the other to go
from big ratio (low gear) to small ratio (high gear). Well, that's the idea.
This is the choice transmission for mopeds around the world and other
light/low torque vehicles. However, it usually is more problematic when
torque increases. That's why even if it did work for an EV, the lifespan of
the transmission would be questionable.
Note that Nissan's CVT are nothing new, for example the DAF cars in the 50s
used such transmissions as well as some of the earliest trucks back in the
end of the 19th century. GM (Saturn vue), Ford(escape?), Honda, renault,
audi, ... there are lots of CVTs and if you're looking for a used one in a
wrecked car, you may want to widen your options.
the caveat is that modern CVTs have become much more complex and are full of
flaky electronics. The "fork" use to be mechanically positioned: a spring
would hold it to its initial position (high ratio) and a fly wheel would
pull it out depending on the speed of the wheels. Good ol' granpa technology
that did job. Nowadays, the fork is gone and it's the cones themselves that
change shape to change the ratio.

you may want to check the excellent how stuff works article about CVTs. here
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt.htm.

If someone has converted a CVT to EV it's probably from a car that had a
powerful v6/v8 or a diesel engine.
On Dec 6, 2007 1:35 PM, Donovan Becker <dbecker215 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>  I was curious as to whether or not anyone has heard of converted or
> custom EV's using any of Nissan's CVT transmissions. Everyone seems to be
> impressed with their "shift 2.0" and they seem to be simpler in nature
> than what the current hybrids out there use. CVT's would be amazingly
> beneficial if they can handle the power.
>
> Donovan
>
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