4. Transmissions

This lesson explores the step of passing the transmitted power from the torque converter or clutch to the driveshaft, all of which occurs inside the transmission. First let's take a look at how automatic and manual transmissions work.

Now that we understand how the power is transmitted, it is important to understand why different gears are necessary. First gear will have the most torque, but at higher speeds the top gear will yield the highest efficiency.

As a continuation of the previous video, the torque advantage of various gears is explained with the following video.

There are certainly many types of existing transmissions used in today's cars. One, used primarily for its quick shifts for racing purposes, is the dual-clutch transmission. This transmission utilizes two clutches to shift gears incredibly quick, and with torque always being transmitted to the tires.

Another transmission which is becoming increasingly popular as technology evolves is the continuously variable transmission (CVT). CVTs allow for uninterrupted acceleration, since there are no gear changes. This means greater efficiency. Unfortunately, the amount of power these transmissions can withstand is relatively low, so they are only common in unison with fuel efficient low volume engines.

Power can be sent from the transmission to the wheels in various different manners. The next lesson will discuss drivetrain layouts.

Lesson 5: Drivetrain Layouts