I do not have a lot of experience driving a CVT vehicle but the ones I have were not impressive. Two months ago I bought a new Honda Civic turbocharged 1.5 liter with a CVT to keep miles off my 3500 Ram driving for work. They have this thing figured out now. It is smooth as silk and this thing is like a little bullet. What got me thinking is how it will hold 2k RPM's from 10mph to 60mph and not move the tach at all. Would this not be great behind a Cummins or any new diesel. So after some research I guess the main problem is making a belt that can handle the torque. However I did find where in 2012 Allison and Dana signed an agreement with Fallbrook Technologies to develop a planetary CVT called the CVP trans. The main target seems to be over the road tractors but who knows if might come to light and medium duty trucks.Another new spin would be diesel over electric trucks like have been used in locomotives for years. A flat max torque curve that starts from idle to wide open again would be sweet pulling any trailer. All this may be way down the road but any thoughts?

I remember they were "THE" thing 10 years ago, fairly low torque limits were their downfall. "diesel over electric trucks".. Gas over electric is the chevy volt, I always thought a light diesel along the lines of the VW diesel (pre scandal) would net even better MPG's.Maybe a RWD large diesel engine, electric generator/starter, CVT, automatic clutch, electric motor, driveshaft, axle.. Add a reasonable battery pack for regenerative braking and to help launches. Stop and go on electric / battery. Launch on electric, with the diesel backing it up (and CVT kicking in once moving). Cruse with the electric disengaged using the CVT to power the axle direct from motor. You won't need a massive CVT, just 200-300 lb feet through it, the electrics can handle the rest.

CVT have limitations in terms of what kind of HP/TQ they can reliably handle. Great for smaller lighter vehicles but thats about it

Unless they are more reliable and have a longer service life of the newer 8+ speeds I dont's see the need. I have been driving the 8 speed offerings of FCA a lot and they are pretty seamless on the shifts. In fact, unless you are in sport mode or really getting on it, it is hard to even feel the shifts.

Some engineer somewhere will get it figured out eventually, and it will make the conventional automatic transmission obsolete.I'm guessing it'll happen round about the time I'm grumpy and old and vehemently averse to any change. Then I can come on here and complain that I can no longer get a good old reliable "slushbox" in a pickup truck, like the guys complaining that they can't get a stick shift now.

CVT in your 1 ton? | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
May 05, 2016
Arcamper wrote:
Another new spin would be diesel over electric trucks like have been used in locomotives for years. A flat max torque curve that starts from idle to wide open again would be sweet pulling any trailer. All this may be way down the road but any thoughts?
This is what I am looking for. Basically no transmission. Electric gets you around town stop and go. About 45 mph a single clutch connects the engine to the drive train and away you go. Engine could self start if needed to charge the battery around town. Maybe 40 to 100 mile range on battery (not towing).
Sport45
Explorer II
May 05, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
Some engineer somewhere will get it figured out eventually, and it will make the conventional automatic transmission obsolete.

I'm guessing it'll happen round about the time I'm grumpy and old and vehemently averse to any change. Then I can come on here and complain that I can no longer get a good old reliable "slushbox" in a pickup truck, like the guys complaining that they can't get a stick shift now.

Now I want a manual CVT.

Give me a clutch to get it rolling and a stick I can pull smoothly from front to back with infinite control of the ratio from granny to double-over.:)
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
May 05, 2016
The American public does not like a CVT equipped vehicle. The Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot and Compass had a CVT Video of CVT in Caliber

Most owners kept bringing them back complaining that the transmission was not shifting. Here is some info on them at Allpar

Don
kw_00
Explorer
May 05, 2016
I am not a fan at all about them, my mother has a Nissan with it and nothing but issues. It was replaced last year again under warranty. She has decided to sell it this year and buy something different. Some like them others like me would never own or want one.
Tvov
Explorer II
May 05, 2016
We have a 2010 Nissan Rogue with a CVT, and we love it. Runs great, gets great gas mileage, and we have not had one problem at all with it in 6 years and 80,000 miles. When we bought it, I was warned both by the salesman and my local mechanic that it is NOT an "offroad" vehicle, even though it sorta looks like it should be. As long as it is driven like a normal car, it is fine.

My understanding is that the lack of shifting and constant up and down of the RPMs allows engines to run much more efficiently, especially with today's computer controls.

I do think that when they get the CVT heavy duty enough to run reliably for hard use in cars and trucks for on and off road use, they will make "standard" automatics obsolete.
Geeze
Explorer
May 05, 2016
Arcamper wrote:
I do not have a lot of experience driving a CVT vehicle but the ones I have were not impressive. Two months ago I bought a new Honda Civic turbocharged 1.5 liter with a CVT to keep miles off my 3500 Ram driving for work. They have this thing figured out now. It is smooth as silk and this thing is like a little bullet. What got me thinking is how it will hold 2k RPM's from 10mph to 60mph and not move the tach at all. Would this not be great behind a Cummins or any new diesel. So after some research I guess the main problem is making a belt that can handle the torque. However I did find where in 2012 Allison and Dana signed an agreement with Fallbrook Technologies to develop a planetary CVT called the CVP trans. The main target seems to be over the road tractors but who knows if might come to light and medium duty trucks.
Another new spin would be diesel over electric trucks like have been used in locomotives for years. A flat max torque curve that starts from idle to wide open again would be sweet pulling any trailer. All this may be way down the road but any thoughts?

My daughter and son in law have a Nissan Rogue with a CVT. I don't think I could get to that high engine revving from a start all the way up to cruising speed.
wilber1
Explorer
May 05, 2016
Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
The American public does not like a CVT equipped vehicle. The Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot and Compass had a CVT Video of CVT in Caliber

Most owners kept bringing them back complaining that the transmission was not shifting. Here is some info on them at Allpar

Don

Lots of people are buying CVT's but American companies haven't committed to them in any big way. Europe and Asia has. Companies like Nissan and Subaru use only CVT's in almost all of their automatic cars. Almost all the hybrids you can buy in North America except VW/Audi use CVT's.

As CAFE standards become more strict, we will be seeing even more of them. Keeping an engine at its most efficient operating RPM makes a lot of sense. Like a turbo prop that runs at a constant RPM and uses changes in propellor pitch and fuel flow to control power output.

They do take some getting used to. Some manufactures have even engineered sport modes into theirs that are programmed with virtual ratios to give a sensation of shifting.
Hannibal
Explorer
May 05, 2016
One of these days we'll have a 1-ton pickup with a heavy duty version of Prius technology and I'll be first in line for one. No transmission. No torque converter. No fan belts. No starter. Compact hybrid battery pack.
RedRocket204
Explorer
May 06, 2016
CVT has also been used in ATVs and snow machines for a while. I recall Kawasaki started in 1997 with the Prairie 400. Almost all utility ATVs use them now and have for many years.
steve-n-vicki
Explorer
May 06, 2016
read up on autocar e3 trucks , they have a hybrid system, diesel hydraulic

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