Types of Transmission In Cars?

February 2, 2022
By Atif Rashid
In Blog

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What is transmission in cars?

One of the most fundamental and vital components is the transmission system in cars. It distributes power from the engine to the wheels, to put it another way. The gearbox, which employs gears and gear trains to create speed and torque, is refer to as the transmission. It is one of your vehicle’s most complicated components, consisting of a sequence of gears (gearbox). It is largely in charge of ensuring that the wheels receive the proper amount of power in order to run at a specific speed. Any vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine needs a transmission.

How transmission works in cars?

The transmission system’s operation differs based on the types of transmission in cars. The transmission system, in most cases, permits the gear ratio between the driving wheels and the engine to be adjusted. It may be adjusted when the automobile speeds up and slows down. When a vehicle comes to a complete stop, the transmission disconnects the engine from the driving wheels, allowing the engine to idle while the wheels are not moving. Transmissions also allow for swift acceleration from a stop and let the engine to run at a lower RPM to reduce wear when the vehicle is travelling at a constant speed.

There are many different types of transmissions in cars, and in this post, we will look at the many types of car transmissions.

Types of transmission in cars

Manual Transmission (MT)

A manual transmission in cars, often known as a stick-shift unit, is a gearbox that requires the driver to move the gears manually. To manage the torque from the engine to the wheels, the driver must engage the clutch by pressing/depressing the foot pedal and pick an appropriate gear ratio by using the gear-selector lever. The engine engaged and disengaged from the transmission using a flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch.
The engine is linked to the flywheel and pressure plate. The clutch is splined to the transmission input shaft and sandwiched between them. The expression “push in the clutch” refers to disengaging the clutch from the engine by releasing the pressure plate. Every time you make a shift, you must first engage the clutch.

Manual Transmission (MT)

Modern automobiles often have five- or six-speed manual gearboxes, depending on engine capacity and category. Earlier automobiles, on the other hand, had three- or four-speed manual transmission in cars, with seven-speed manual transmissions on rare occasions. Aside from its inherent simplicity, performance, and fuel efficiency, the driving experience is probably the most convincing justification for the classic stick shift. Nothing like the thrill of a properly timed shift on a good vintage manual for serious car fans.

Advantages of Manual Transmission

Manual transmission is considered better for off-road purposes.
This type of transmission system provide high torque load.
These are much more reliable and easier to service than other types.

Disadvantages of Manual Transmission

Not everyone can drive
Higher learning curve.
These require more work during driving.

Automatic Transmission (AT)

It’s a type of multi-speed transmission in cars that doesn’t require the driver to change forward gears in regular driving scenarios. A planetary gearset, hydraulic controls, and a torque converter make up the system. Since the early 1900s, the first automatic gearbox, which was more like a semi-automatic transmission because it still featured a clutch, has existed in some form. The fluid is pushed out of the pump at a rapid rate, which causes the turbine to spin. The fluid circulates independently in the two portions and via the stator. The turbine linked to the shaft, which is linked to the rest of the system, and energy is then transmitted to the gear system.
The driver just needs to choose from the usual P-R-N-D-L options on the gear selector, despite the fact that the activity behind the scenes is fairly intricate. The benefit is, of course, a more straightforward driving experience and a more gradual learning curve. Mechanical complexity is a trade-off for driving simplicity, making the automatic more prone to malfunction and more expensive to repair.

Automatic Transmission (AT)

How about electric vehicles? Electric cars employ single-gear transmissions. Engineers may employ tiny single-speed gearboxes to deliver power to the drive wheels because of the power band of an electric motor. This can be a bolt-on or integrated with the motor.

Advantages of AT

The main advantage of automatic transmissions is that they are simply convenient and easy to use.
They provide comfortable driving for the driver and passengers.
ATs naturally have more power than any equivalent manual transmission.

Disadvantages of AT

It is a complex system where many different items can fail.
Very expensive to main and repair compared to manual transmission.

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

This gearbox features a constantly variable driving ratio (rather than stepped gear ratios), and instead of gears, it employs belts, pulleys, and sensors to provide a constant acceleration curve with no pauses for gear changes. As a result, a CVT can keep the engine in its most efficient power range, improving economy and gas mileage.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT)in cars, sometimes known as a shiftless transmission, is a type of automatic gearbox that may shift through a wide variety of effective gear ratios rather than a limited number of them. The CVT’s belt-driven system has an efficiency of around 88%, which is lower than a manual gearbox, but this can be countered by cheaper production costs and the ability to operate the engine at its most efficient speed over a wide range of output speeds.

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

As one becomes bigger and the other gets smaller, the breadth of these pulleys fluctuates depending on the power required. As a result, powerful and smooth acceleration is possible. Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are now using CVTs in their vehicles.

Advantages of CVT

They can provide you a smoothest ride because it eliminates feeling of shifting.
It has greater fuel efficiency because engine is always running efficiently.
It can give you a faster response to a change in driving conditions.

Disadvantages of CVT

They considered unusable in off-road conditions.
There is no engine braking capability as seen in the manual transmission.

Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)

A dual-clutch transmission in cars, sometimes known as a DCT, is a form of automatic transmission that has two clutches, one for each pair of odd and even gear ratios. Even-numbered gears driven by the bigger outer clutch, whereas odd-numbered gears driven by the smaller inner clutch. DCTs are the fastest-shifting road automobile transmission because any of these other gear ratios (odd and even) may be pre-selected while driving in any gear without stopping torque delivery to the wheels. Wet multi-plate clutches and dry single-plate clutches are the two most common forms of DCTs.
As a result, the transfer from one gear to the next takes milliseconds, making gear changes far faster with a DCT than with a regular manual or automatic transmission in cars. This is particularly useful in high-performance and racing vehicles, where split seconds can be the difference between winning and losing.

Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)

A wet-clutch DCT, which uses oil for cooling, is design for engines that develop high torque output of 350Nm or more. A dry-clutch DCT is suitable for smaller engines that produce a lower torque output of up to 250Nm. However, dry-clutch DCTs are more fuel efficient as there are no fluid pumping losses.

Advantages of Dual-clutch Transmission

DCTs offer better fuel economy and better performance than automatic transmissions.
Since they shift smoothly and with a high degree of accuracy, they often preferred in the field of performance driving.

Disadvantages of Dual-clutch Transmission

They are expensive, this disadvantage compounded by their complexity which leads to more frequent and costly repairs.
When driving at low speeds, such as in a parking lot or on the opposite side of the car, it tends to pull and lock.

Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)

An automated manual transmission in cars, like a manual transmission, has a mechanical clutch; however, the clutch action is control by electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic controls rather than by the driver via the clutch pedal. This transmission, also known as a “Direct Shift Gearbox” (“DSG”) or a “Sequential Manual Gearbox” (“SMG”), allows for entirely automatic or manual forward gear shifts through the gear selection or buttons or paddles on the steering wheel.
A automobile with an AMT lacks a clutch pedal, instead relying only on the accelerator and braking pedals. When necessary, this transmission also allows for manual gear shifts. The AMT gearbox controlled by hydraulics and a computer linked to the car’s ECU (ECU).

Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)

AMTs are significantly less expensive than traditional automatic gearboxes. These gearboxes designed for ease of use and not particularly geared for driving enjoyment. That’s why AMTs are slow to respond to throttle inputs and cause a noticeable head-nod when a heavy foot used to drive the car. AMTs, on the other hand, have the advantage of being fuel-efficient.

Advantages of AMT

A significant advantage of the AMT over the manual transmission is its convenience because operating the clutch is not part of the diver’s task, so it reduces fatigue.
AMT is more fuel-efficient, thus allowing more energy to flow to the wheels than automatic transmission.
You can drive it however you want, which means most AMT equipped cars also come with the manual mode.

Disadvantages of AMT

However, since AMTs depend on predetermined RPM levels, they can cause unplanned changes during overtaking which can be troublesome.
Higher space requirement and more weight than a manual transmission.

Intelligent Manual Transmission In Cars (iMT)

The iMT is a clutch less manual transmission in cars, to put it succinctly. It features gears and a gear lever, just like a manual gearbox. Because the iMT lacks a clutch pedal and only has a brake and accelerator pedal, it drives almost like an automatic car.
You have entire control over the transmission in scenarios like downhill or overtaking. Don’t have to worry about working the clutch pedal. You don’t need to raise the accelerator when shifting gears with this sort of transmission system, but if you do, it will make things flow more smoothly.

Intelligent Manual Transmission

The iMT transmission technology does not have the ability to shift gears automatically. When comparing an IMT automobile to a manual gearbox car. However, fuel efficiency and mileage are subjective and reliant on the driver’s driving style.

Advantages of iMT

By using IMT Car, you have complete control over what gear your car is in and you won’t have to rely on software.
The cost of an iMT is also closer to that of a regular manual transmission.
With IMT, the driver gets relief from a clutch operation, especially in city stop-go traffic.