Gearing down - manually change to lower gears with eCVT?

[Mdibon]

I have never driven a cvt. And was wondering if you are able to select a lower gear. Bases on what I have read on how they work. I would suspect not. Is there a ability to do something like gearing down. Especially when going down a large grade?

Sponsored

 

[thosw]

The Hybrid CVT has regenerative braking so anytime you take your foot off the gas petal you would get the sensation you are describing.

 

[Zepper]

Also there are no gears to gear down to cvt stands for constantly variable transmission

 

[Rkbrumbelow]

I have never driven a cvt. And was wondering if you are able to select a lower gear. Bases on what I have read on how they work. I would suspect not. Is there a ability to do something like gearing down. Especially when going down a large grade?

As has been stated there is a regenerative system that will charge your primary battery to capacity. You can typically force a CVT to only use higher bands (lower gear ratios) but the V is variable. The easiest way to visualize a CVT is think of 2 cones on top of one another connected by a band. On one end is the motor, the other the axle as you move the band the number of revolutions the engine makes compared to the axle changes but they are smooth cones, no steps.

the electric motor becomes a generator when you need to pull power out.
This is a gross simplification but sometimes it helps understand what’s happening

 

[Darnon]

The easiest way to visualize a CVT is think of 2 cones on top of one another connected by a band. On one end is the motor, the other the axle as you move the band the number of revolutions the engine makes compared to the axle changes but they are smooth cones, no steps.

Except an eCVT doesn't use a band and cones at all. Gear ratio of the ICE is a function of differing the rotational speed of the start/generator motor across a planetary gearset.

 

[Rkbrumbelow]

Except an eCVT doesn't use a band and cones at all. Gear ratio of the ICE is a function of differing the rotational speed of the start/generator motor across a planetary gearset.

Which is why I said to visualize what’s happening. Sometimes you have to visualize a concept before you can understand the next model that is closer to the truth.

In teaching philosophy we refer to this as Wittgenstein’s Ladder. It’s also why we don’t introduce quantum chemistry before general chemistry, even though by the time you get there all the mechanisms you were taught before have been gross simplifications at best and outright lies at worst.

Spacemanspiff posted some excellent videos at https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-how-ecvt-works-in-a-toyota-ford-vehicle.463/ if you want to see what’s really happening

 

[Delbert]

This is one of the great advantages of a hybrid. You can ride the brakes and all you are doing is charging the battery not wearing out the brake pads or burning them up. This is especially advantageous when towing. No more smoking brakes.

 

[Mdibon]

This is one of the great advantages of a hybrid. You can ride the brakes and all you are doing is charging the battery not wearing out the brake pads or burning them up. This is especially advantageous when towing. No more smoking brakes.

I was wondering about that. At what point do the physical breaks kick in?

 

[Rkbrumbelow]

I was wondering about that. At what point do the physical breaks kick in?

Once the battery is charged or you apply enough pressure on the brakes that it exceeds the regenerative system.

you absolutely cannot just ride the brakes and engine braking only does so much. If you are towing regularly in hilly terrain buy a 7 pin converter and use a trailer with brakes.

 

[JASmith]

There are CVTs that can fake having gears by altering the ratios accordingly, and some even have paddle shifters, but its not really efficient and the Maverick won't do that. As was mentioned, you get regenerative braking as a more efficient option to engine braking.

 

[hondabuster]

From what I have seen there is a grade assist mode. Not sure if thats the term that ford uses, which can give added regen and also apply engine braking, once the battery is full. I believe it can be switched on or off, on the touchscreen, and then you can acess it by pressing the L on the center of the transmission control
https://owner.ford.com/support/how-tos/electric-ev-hybrids/how-to-use-hybrid-grade-assist.html#

 

[Rkbrumbelow]

From what I have seen there is a grade assist mode. Not sure if thats the term that ford uses, which can give added regen and also apply engine braking, once the battery is full. I believe it can be switched on or off, on the touchscreen, and then you can acess it by pressing the L on the center of the transmission control
https://owner.ford.com/support/how-tos/electric-ev-hybrids/how-to-use-hybrid-grade-assist.html#

the 2nd to last sentence of the video answers one of my questions: if your battery is full the engine may come on but it will not be using any fuel. So additional braking is available by turning the engine into an air compressor basically. Smart move

 

[Edge Haley]

From what I have seen there is a grade assist mode. Not sure if thats the term that ford uses, which can give added regen and also apply engine braking, once the battery is full. I believe it can be switched on or off, on the touchscreen, and then you can acess it by pressing the L on the center of the transmission control
https://owner.ford.com/support/how-tos/electric-ev-hybrids/how-to-use-hybrid-grade-assist.html#

Good video but from the pictures of the shifting knob there is no Manual or buttons on the Maverick to + or - the braking during “downshifting.”

 

[adawalli]

Just wait until you learn about pulse and glide (prevent Regen and effectively have something like neutral). will take a while to get a feel for that transition point. Effectively, you don't want power flowing in either direction. I actually like to accelerate moderately hard about 5mlh over target speed and then "coast" about 5 below.
The incredible aerodynamics on Prius let you coast for much longer time than you accelerate, thus the improved mpg. Prius won't turn off ICE over 46mph though, but hopeful the maverick can go higher!
Can't wait to start competing with you all over fuel economy numbers

 

[Rkbrumbelow]

Good video but from the pictures of the shifting knob there is no Manual or buttons on the Maverick to + or - the braking during “downshifting.”

There is an indicator for Low on the console and I imagine it’s operation is documented in the drivers manual

Sponsored