No manual tranny??

[cyberprius]

I've always driven a manual tranny. So, some friends have mentioned that fact.

Any reason, and I know it is all guess, why no manual in the Prius. Seems it would offer best MPG as it does in all the other Toyota lines...

[Patrick Wong]

Hi Kristi,

The Toyota hybrid system totally depends upon its unique transaxle design that combines power produced by the gasoline engine and two motor generators. It is not possible to use a manual transmission with this design.

I attached an excerpt from the 2004 New Car Features manual which provides an overview of the Toyota hybrid system. If you have questions after reading the excerpt, please ask away.

[qbee42]

As Patrick states above, it's not possible in the Prius. Another way to look at it is that the Prius transmission is manual, but it only has one gear and no clutch, so there is nothing to operate when it comes to shifting. It's a completely unique system.

Tom

[ZC1]

Originally Posted by cyberprius

I've always driven a manual tranny. So, some friends have mentioned that fact.

Any reason, and I know it is all guess, why no manual in the Prius. Seems it would offer best MPG as it does in all the other Toyota lines...

Are you sure its Kristi asking?
Is it not her husband?

ZC1

[seasalsa]

Originally Posted by ZC1

Are you sure its Kristi asking?
Is it not her husband?ZC1

I'll bet you are right. She won't let him near her car. Maybe the computer will be next.

[PriusSport]

I've driven a stick for 35 years, and the CVT gearless makes you forget about wanting to shift, which can be tedious on hills and in traffic. It's so smooth, unlike a regular auto, which has those annoying steps when the gears change. I can imagine future race cars with the CVT (shifting takes time), though I understand full battery-powered vehicles don't need a transmission--just a braking system. You get away from the ICE, and cars change dramatically.

I've noticed that other non-hybrids also have the CVT transmission, Jeeps, for example. I assume it's also stepless, like the Prius?

[john1701a]

Originally Posted by PriusSport

I've noticed that other non-hybrids also have the CVT transmission, Jeeps, for example. I assume it's also stepless, like the Prius?

Other than the name, absolutely nothing is in common. The components are different and they operate different.

Cone & Belt type CVTs are used for non-hybrid vehicles and some "assist" hybrids.

Planetary type CVTs are used for "full" hybrid vehicles.

Refer to the PSD documents on my website for illustrations & descriptions of how the system in Prius works.

.

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by PriusSport

...I've noticed that other non-hybrids also have the CVT transmission, Jeeps, for example. I assume it's also stepless, like the Prius?

Well - the Prius transaxle might act and "feel" like a CVT installed in a non-hybrid. However the Prius transaxle works much differently than a CVT.

[YoungOrganist]

Is it true that the only stick shift hybrid is the Insight?

I've always wondered: Is a CVT more efficient than a manual transmissions? Of course it picks the gearing ratio whereas you can choose on a stickshift, but does it always pick the most efficient one?

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by cyberprius

I've always driven a manual tranny. So, some friends have mentioned that fact.

Any reason, and I know it is all guess, why no manual in the Prius. Seems it would offer best MPG as it does in all the other Toyota lines...

You can still shift to any of the available gear selections at any speed ... if you need something to do with your other hand. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson