Manual Transmissions

The manual transmission uses a combination of a clutch and a stick-shift to allow the driver to manually change gear ratios. This generally makes the manual gearbox vehicles more interactive and fun to drive as well as making them cheaper to purchase and own, but they tend to be less gas efficient due to human error when shifting. These are the most commonly used transmission type globally. They work by disengaging the clutch with the pedal, disconnecting the flow of power to the gears while you shift which protects the gears from possibly being damaged. Stick-shifts have a less smooth drive than automatic and CVT transmission vehicles and are more difficult to learn.

CVT Transmissions

There are pros and cons to using a CVT, but some automakers are using continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) because they are able to get the maximum power out of smaller engines (or batteries in hybrids). The CVT uses a pulley and belt system instead of gears; this allows it to provide an infinite number of ratios for any situation. They tend to be quicker and more responsive when accelerating and are usually used with vehicles having four-cylinder engines. CVTs are smoother when accelerating and climbing hills  and are lighter in weight than their manual and automatic predecessors. CVTs, however, are known to sometimes be excessively loud or harsh; this is caused by the transmission forcing the engine to spin at higher RPMs (revolutions per minute) as the vehicle accelerates. 

Hybrid Transmissions

Hybrid Transmissions, found in the aptly named Hybrid vehicle are typically just a variation on the CVT transmission. This is because the CVT is better at getting the most power out of smaller engines and batteries. However, hybrid transmissions differ in that the hybrid drive-train uses two separate power sources to move the vehicle forward depending on the mode of driving. As load conditions change, the hybrid vehicle’s computer system switches controls from the engine to the battery, from the battery to the engine or a combination of both to increase efficiency. One interesting thing about the transmissions found in hybrid vehicles is that the power generated by the wheels while braking is converted to electricity by the transmission and used to charge the battery.