Types of Transmission

What is Transmission?
The transmission system is one of the most basic and important parts of a vehicle. You
can define it like this, it transfers power from the engine to the wheels. Transmission
simply refers to the gearbox, which uses gears and gear trains to provide speed and
torque.

It is one of the most complex components of your vehicle consisting of a series of gears
(gearbox). It is primarily responsible for making sure the wheels get the right amount of
power so that they can operate at a certain speed.

There are many types of car transmissions. The most common are automatic, while
manual transmissions in stick-shift cars require the driver to complete additional steps
to effectively operate the vehicle. Let's know the functions of a transmission system.

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How Transmission System Works?

The working of the transmission system varies depending on the type of transmission.
Typically, the transmission system allows the gear ratio between the drive wheels and
the engine. It can be adjusted as the car slows down and increases speed.

Once you start your car and reach your destination, now you have to stop, in this
scenario, the transmission disconnects the engine from the drive wheels so that the
engine can remain idling when the wheels are not in motion.

The transmission can also provide more responsive acceleration from a stop and
enables the engine to run more slowly while the vehicle is running at a normal speed.
So, now let's see what are the different types of transmission systems available.

Types of Transmission
Following are the types of transmission used in automobile vehicles:

1. Manual Transmission
2. Intelligent manual transmission (IMT)
3. Automated manual transmission (AMT)
4. Automatic transmission (AT)
5. Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
6. Semi-automatic transmission

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7. Dual-clutch transmission
8. Sequential transmission
9. Torque converter transmission
10. Tiptronic transmission

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1. Manual Transmission

A manual transmission is a system that requires the driver to manually select a gear by
operating a gear stick and clutch to change gears. This transmission system is consists of
a set of gears (different sizes) along with a pair of shafts.

The input shaft is connected to the engine and the output shaft is continuously coupled
to the input shaft and consists of several gears. In this, the driver has to select gears
manually and engage or disengage the clutch pedal.

This transmission uses a flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch to engage and disengage
the engine from the transmission. The flywheel and pressure plate are attached to the
engine and the clutch is mounted between them.

The word push in clutch means to release the pressure plate which detaches the clutch
from the engine every time you do a shift, you have to push in the clutch first.

Advantages of Manual Transmission

1. Manual transmission is considered better for off-road purposes.

2. This type of transmission system provide high torque load.

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3. These are much more reliable and easier to service than other types.

Disadvantages of Manual Trasmission

1. Not everyone can drive

2. Higher learning curve.
3. These are require more work during driving.

#2 Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT)

Simply and quite accurately put the iMT is a clutchless manual transmission. It is
similar to a manual gearbox, it has gears and a gear lever. The driver almost feels like an
automatic car as the iMT doesn't have a clutch pedal, but just a brake and an accelerator
pedal.

In situations like downhill or overtaking, you have complete control over the gearbox
and that is certainly without the headache of operating the clutch pedal. In this types of
transmission system, you don't need to lift the accelerator while shifting gears, if you
do, it will help things run smoothly.

The iMT transmission system cannot automatically shift gears. On the other hand with
an IMT car compared to a manual transmission car, fuel efficiency and mileage are
subjective and dependent on the driving style of the driver.

Advantages of iMT

1. By using IMT Car, you can have complete control over what gear your car is in
and you won't have to rely on software.
2. The cost of an iMT is also closer to that of a regular manual transmission.

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3. With IMT, the driver gets relief from a clutch operation, especially in city stop-go
traffic.

Disadvantages of iMT

1. In IMT, gear shifts are not smooth as the system relies on a clutch which has to be
modulated by an actuator.

#3 Automated Manual Transmission (AMT)

An automated manual transmission is an enhanced or modified version of manual

transmission that has eliminated the need to engage the clutch pedal when shifting
gears. It is almost similar to a manual transmission but in this system, the sensors and
actuators act as clutch and shift gears.

A car with an AMT does not have a clutch pedal, instead, only the accelerator and brake
pedal. This transmission also allows manual gear shift when needed. The AMT
transmission uses hydraulics and a computer connected to the car's Electronic Control
Unit (ECU).

The gear shift patterns are pre-programmed on this unit and work mainly on the preset
RPM range. Once the system calculates maximum RPMs the ECU engages the actuators
which operate the clutch and gearbox. The car uses AMT is Maruti Suzuki Alto,
Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, and more.

Advantages of AMT

1. 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.

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2. AMT is more fuel-efficient, thus allowing more energy to flow to the wheels than
automatic transmission.
3. You can drive it however you want, which means most AMT equipped cars also
come with the manual mode.

Disadvantages of AMT

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

#4 Automatic Transmission (AT)

It is a multi-speed transmission utilized in vehicles that do not require any driver to

change forward gears under normal driving situations. It is consists of a planetary
gearset, hydraulic controls, and a torque converter.

The engine is connected to a torque converter which is then connected to a gear system
and then to the transmission. Inside the torque converter, some parts work in tandem
with each other. The outermost part houses the flywheel which spins the whole
structure.

The rotation pushes the fluid out of the pump at high speed, causing the turbine to spin.
The fluid continues to circulate in the two sections separately and through the stator.
The turbine is connected to the shaft which connects to the rest of the system and then
energy is transferred to the gear system.

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Advantages of AT

1. The main advantage of automatic transmissions is that they are simply

convenient and easy to use.
2. They provide comfortable driving for the driver and passengers.
3. ATs naturally have more power than any equivalent manual transmission.

Disadvantages of AT

1. It is a complex system where many different items can fail.

2. Very expensive to main and repair compared to manual transmission.

#5 Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

These are pulley-based transmissions primarily used in small vehicles with smaller
engines and they can change gears seamlessly through a constant gear ratio. This is in
opposition to other transmissions that offer a limited number of gear ratios in fixed
stages.

The CVT uses two pulleys between which a steel belt runs. To continuously change its
gear ratio, the CVT simultaneously adjusts the diameter of the "drive pulley" which
transmits torque from the engine, and the "drive pulley" which transfers torque to the
wheels.

The width of these pulleys changes depending on the power required as one gets bigger
and the other gets smaller. Hence this allows delivering strong and smooth acceleration.
Currently, the use of CVTs in their cars includes Toyota, Nissan, and Honda.

Advantages of CVT

1. They can provide you a smoothest ride because it eliminates feeling of shifting.

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2. It has greater fuel efficeincy because engine is always running efficiently.

3. It can give you a faster response to a change in driving conditions.

Disadvantages of CVT

1. They are considered unusable in off-road conditions.

2. There is no engine braking capability as seen in the manual transmission.

#6 Semi-automatic Transmission

A semi-automatic transmission is a multi-speed transmission, where part of its

operation is automatic, but requires a driver's input to drive the vehicle from stop and
change gears manually. It is a combination of manual and automatic transmission.

It can also provide you with how to control the gears as there is a selection of both
manual and automatic options. The kinetic energy produced by the engine helps the
wheels spin, while gear ratios control how fast or slow your wheels spin.

Importantly, semi-automatics do not have a clutch pedal. Instead, the car's CPU and
sensors operate the clutch when the driver changes gears, as a result, semi-autos are
actually easier to drive. Semi-automatic transmission is commonly used in Hyundai
cars.

Advantages of Semi-automatic Transmission

1. They can provide you a smooth shifting compared to manual transmission.

2. Semi-automatic transmission has fewer inefficiencies in shifting means no lag
time or slippage.
3. You can do gear shifting quickly without any difficulty.

Disadvantages of Semi-automatic Transmission

1. These are complex systems which means that objects are likely to fail.
2. These types of transmission system are expensive to maintain compared to
manual transmission.
3. Very expensive to repair often it's more cost-effective to just replace.

#7 Dual-clutch Transmission

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This transmission employs two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets which
allow for especially quick shifts. The design is often similar to two separate manual
transmissions, in that their respective clutches are within a housing, and operate as a
single unit.

The DCT operates like an automatic transmission, requiring no driver input to change
gears. This type of transmission can generally be operated in fully automatic mode or
can be moved manually with the pedals on the steering wheel.

Currently, these gearboxes are mainly found on race cars and high-end sports cars and
they are quite expensive.

Advantages of Dual-clutch Transmission

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

Disadvantages of Dual-clutch Transmission

1. They are expensive, this disadvantage is compounded by their complexity which

leads to more frequent and costly repairs.
2. 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.

#8 Sequential Transmission

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A sequential manual transmission allows you to select either the next gear (e.g., shifting
from first gear to second gear) or the previous gear (e.g., shifting from third gear to
second gear), operated through electronic pedals mounted on the rear of the steering
wheel.

In the vehicle with a sequential gearbox, you simply hit a lever or pedal to click through
each gear, whether you're up-shifting or down-shifting. In some vehicles, there is an
actual lever that the driver either pushes forward or pulls backward to shift up or
down.

Generally, it is a type of non-synchronous manual transmission used mostly for

motorcycles and racing cars. They are also known as sequential gearboxes or sequential
transmissions.

Advantages of Sequential Transmission

1. The shifting gears in sequential transmission is easier.

2. You can increase or decrease your speed without stopping or experiencing a
drop in speed.
3. This mechanism is named because you can only change gears in sequence.

Disadvantages of Sequential Transmission

1. One disadvantage of a sequential gearbox is that you cannot "skip the shift" - i.e.
change gears non-sequentially.
2. Going again after a panic stop can be a bit difficult as they do not like to shift
easily while stopping.

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#9 Torque Converter Transmission

Torque converter transmission is one of the oldest types of automatic transmission. The
first torque converters weren't designed for any sort of performance or fuel efficiency.
But today's torque converters are quite responsive and are suitable for city or highway
driving.

The casing attaches to the flywheel, rotating at the same speed as the crankshaft within
the turbine's housing. Finally, the impeller or centrifugal pump drives transmission
fluid to the turbine fins which in turn spins or transmits torque to the transmission. The
torque converter is used in the vehicle which is provided with automatic transmission.
The cars offered with Torque Converter are Hyundai Creta AT, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz AT,
etc.

Advantages of Torque Converter Transmission

1. It produces maximum torque as compared to a vehicle equipped with a clutch.

2. It can provide driving comfort to drivers by avoiding changing gears manually.
3. They remove the clutch pedal and make driving easier.

Disadvantages of Torque Converter Transmission

1. The torque converter transmission are less fuel efficient compared to manual
transmission or CVT.
2. These types of transmission system require higher cost to install.

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#10 Tiptronic Transmission

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The Tiptronic transmission system is similar to an automatic transmission in that the

driver can exit "automatic mode" and use the paddles to shift up or down like a manual
transmission. The Tiptronic transmission is also known as Sportmatic or Steptronic
transmission.

It is an automatic gearbox with the ability to change gears manually. A Tiptronic

transmission works in the same way as a manual gearbox, but without the clutch. This
allows you more control gears, which is ideal for going high hills or for better control
when overtaking on the highway. There are safety measures built into the Tiptronic
transmission that will automatically shift in case the driver forgets. These are commonly
seen in cars like Volkswagen models, Audi, Land Rover, Lamborghini models, and
more.

Advantages of Tiptronic Tranmission

1. Driving a car with a Tiptronic transmission allows you more control when you
change gears.
2. When driving up or down a steep hill, you can manually change gears to allow
for a smoother and safer ride.
3. Automatic shifting in manual mode also assists the driver by delaying the engine
in case of down-shift failure.

Disadvantages of Tiptronic Transmission

1. The Tiptronic system uses a torque converter instead of the regular clutch
mechanism, this can result in some degree of power loss.
2. Since in manual mode, the ECU shifts gears, there is a slight delay during the
shift, which becomes evident in more aggressive driving.

Wrapping Up It
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As I already said, the function of any transmission is to transfer engine power to the
driveshaft and a differential to turn the wheels. When buying a vehicle, knowing about
the different types of transmission systems can help you to choose as your comfort of
driving.

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