The advantage of CVT

in the real world

Yoshikazu Oota
Senior Engineer
Powertrain Engineering Division
NISSAN MOTOR CO.,LTD.

Contents

Introduction
Transmission performance
Competitiveness of CVT and DCT
Driving Pattern in the Real World
Summary

Contents

Introduction
Transmission performance
Competitiveness of CVT and DCT
Driving Pattern in the Real World
Summary

Introduction
There are mainly 3 types of 2 pedal transmissions such
as AT, CVT and DCT.
They have each advantages and disadvantages.
Conventional Step-AT
(AT)
Continuously Variable
Transmission
(CVT)

Dual Clutch Transmission

(DCT)

Introduction
Many Nissans vehicles have CVTs.
Because CVTs have some advantages for fuel
consumption comparing to other transmissions.

Contents

Introduction
Transmission performance
Competitiveness of CVT and DCT
Driving Pattern in the Real World
Summary

Powertrain Fuel Consumption

The powertrain fuel consumption depnends on 3
characters.
(1) Engine Efficiency

Engine
(2) Engine Operate Efficiency

(3) Transmission Efficiency

Transmission

Transmission Peformance
Transmission performance can be expressed with
engine operate efficiency and transmission efficiency.

be
tte
r

(2) Engine Operate

Efficiency

100%

100%

(3) Transmission Efficiency

Transmission Efficiency
Transmission efficiency [%]
Output energy [kW]dt
=
Input energy [kW]dt

100

4ATs transmission efficiency is approximately 75 on 10-15 test cycle.

Measurement

km/h

80

Vehicle Speed

60

1.5L-Engine+4AT

40
20
Input energy

Energy

Output energy

20
15
10
5

100

200

300

400

500

600

0
700

kW

Engine Operate Efficiency

32

rp
m

0.12

00

36
00
rp
rpm
m

Better

00

Fuel Consumption [cc/kJ]

1.5L-Engine
28

rpm
2400

0.14

2000rpm

0.16

1600rpm

0.18

1200rpm rpm
80 0

0.20

0.10
0.08
0.06
0

Optimal fuel consumption curve

5

10
15
Engine Output energy [kW]

20

Engine Operate Efficiency

Engine Operate Efficiency [%]
Minimum fuel consumption [cc]dt
=
Actual
fuel consumption [cc]dt
0.20

Acrual Fuel Consumption = 0.12 [cc]

28
00

32

rp
m

Fuel Consumption [cc/kJ]

Engine operate efficiency = 0.10/0.12 = 83 [%]

rpm
2400

2000rpm

0.14

1600rpm
1200rpm

0.16

80 0rpm

0.18

100

0.12

00

36
00
rp
rpm
m

1.5L-Engine

0.10
0.08
0.06
0

Minimum fuel consumption = 0.10 [cc]

5

10
15
Engine Output energy [kW]

20

Engine Operate Efficiency

0.18

1.5L-Engine+4AT
on 10-15 test cycle
28
00

0.14

rpm
2400

0.16

2000rpm

32

rp
m

Fuel Consumption [cc/kJ]

0.20

1600rpm
1200rpm
80 0rpm

4ATs engine operate efficiency is approximately 80 on

10-15 test cycle.

0.12

00

36
00
rp
rpm
m

Measurement

0.10
0.08
0.06
0

Optimal fuel consumption curve

5

10
15
Engine Output energy [kW]

20

Transmission efficiency & Engine operate efficiency

DCTs Transmission efficiency is the highest.
CVTs Engine operate efficiency is the highest.
2.5L-Engine Simulation
Engine operate efficiency [%]

Transmission efficiency [%]

DCT
(6speed
Wet)

Highway cycle
LA4 cycle

AT
(6speed)
CVT
100% 95%

90%

85%

80%

75%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

This simulation was performed with existing transmissions specification.

But the final gear ratio was adjusted in order to have the same driving forces.

100%

Transmission Efficiency

Transmission Energy Loss [%]

CVTs transmission efficiency is lower than ATs or

DCTs because CVTs equip with lager oil pump for higher
oil pressure.
120%

Torque Converter or Starting Clutch

100%

Oil Pump

80%

Inertia

60%

2.5L-Engine Simulation
US-Combined test cycle

40%

Others
20%
0%

CVT
CVT

6AT
AT(6speed)

6Speed Wet DCT Wet)

DCT(6speed

Engine Operate Efficiency

DCTs engine operate efficiency is lower because DCTs
run at the stepped gear ratio.
Fuel Consumption [cc/kJ]

0.18
0.16
0.14

2.5L-Engine Simulation
LA4 test cycle
rpm
00
28

r pm
00
24
r pm
00
20
m
0rp
160
rpm
1200
rp m
600

0.20

320

0r p
m

360

0r p
m

CVT
DCT(6speed Wet)

0.12
0.10
0.08

Optimal fuel consumption curve

0.06
0

10
15
20
Engine Output energy [kW]

25

30

Transmission performance

r
tte

CVT

be

(2) Engine Operate

Efficiency

CVTs are better at engine operate efficiency.

DCTs are better at transmission efficiency.

AT
DCT

(3) Transmission Efficiency

Contents

Introduction
Transmission performance
Competitiveness of CVTs and DCTs
Driving Pattern in the Real World
Summary

Fuel Consumption of ATs

Fuel consumption of emission test cycles is worse than
that of constant speed condition.
2.5L-Engine Calculation
10-15 JC08

0.12

US06

LA4

0.10

AT(6speed)

NEDC

0.08

144%

0.06

Constant speed

0.04

Fuel consumption ratio

(vs Constant speed)

0.02

HighWay

Better

Fuel Consumption [L/km]

0.14

0.00
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Average of vehicle speed [km/h]

140

160

VSF (Vehicle Speed Fluctuation)

VSF(Vehicle speed fluctuation) [%]
Standard deviation of vehicle speed () [km/h]

Average vehicle speed () [km/h]

100

VSF =/= 29.5 / 43 = 69 [%] on NEDC cycle

Vehicle speed [km/h]

140
120
100
80

60
40

20
0
0

200

400

600

time[sec]

800

1000

1200

Time frequency [%]

Fuel Consumption of ATs

The larger VSF is, the worse fuel consumption is.
2.5L-Engine Calculation

Fuel Consumption [L/km]

0.14

10-15(VSF=60%)

0.12

NEDC(VSF=69%) US06(VSF=36%)

0.10

140%

0.08

AT(6speed)
144%

123%

0.06

Constant speed

0.04

Fuel consumption ratio

(vs Constant speed)

0.02
0.00
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Average of vehicle speed [km/h]

140

160

Fuel Consumption Ratio of ATs

VSF and Fuel Consumption Ratio are linearly correlated.

Fuel Consumption Ratio [%]

(vs Constant speed)

150%

10-15
JC08

140%

AT(6speed)
NEDC

US06

130%

LA4
Highway

120%

110%

Constant Speed
100%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Acceleration & Deceleration

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

80%

2.5L-Engine Calculation

Fuel Consumption Ratio of ATs,CVTs and DCTs

The slope of CVTs is smaller than that of DCTs and ATs.

Fuel Consumption Ratio [%]

(vs Constant speed)

150%

DCT(6speed Wet)

AT(6speed)

140%

CVT

130%

Constant Speed

120%

110%

100%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

80%

2.5L-Engine Calculation

Fuel Consumption Ratio of ATs,CVTs and DCTs

The smaller the slope is, the higher engine operate
efficiency is.
Fuel Consumption Ratio [%]
(vs Constant speed)

150%

DCT(6speed Wet)

AT(6speed)

140%

CVT

130%

Constant Speed
120%

engine operate efficiency

110%

100%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

80%

2.5L-Engine Calculation

Fuel Consumption of constant speed condition

The fuel consumption of DCTs are better at the constant
speed condition.
0.12

CVT

0.10
0.08

AT(6speed)

DCT(6speed Wet)

0.06
0.04

6%

0.02
0.00

Better

Fuel Consumption [L/km]

0.14

20

40

60

80

100

Vehicle speed [km/h]

120

140

160

2.5L-Engine Calculation

Fuel Consumption Ratio of ATs,CVTs and DCTs

DCTs intersects with CVTs in the Vehicle speed
fluctuation about 40%.
DCT

AT

140%

CVT

130%

Transmission
efficiency

Fuel Consumption Ratio [%]

(vs Constant speed)

150%

Constant Speed

120%

DCT(adjustmed)

110%

100%

94%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

80%

2.5L-Engine Calculation

Competitiveness of CVT and DCT

VSF 40% is the turning point of the fuel consumption.
DCT(adjustmed)

Fuel Consumption Ratio [%]

(vs Constant speed)

150%

10-15
140%

JC08

Constant Speed
130%

CVT
NEDC

US06
Highway

120%

LA4

110%

DCT is better

100%

94%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

CVT is better
50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

80%

2.5L-Engine Calculation

Contents

Introduction
Transmission performance
Competitiveness of CVT and DCT
Driving Pattern in the Real World
Summary

Driving Pattern of real world

Driving patterns are different at every markets.
We classify various driving patterns into 6 patterns.

Japan

1.Heavy traffic

USA

2.Urban

Europe

3.Suburb

BRICs

4.Mountain

other...

5.Highway
6.High speed in mountains

Driving Pattern in Japanese market

Over VSF=40% share more the 75% frequency in market.
4.High speed in mountains

1.Heavy Traffic

VSF=22%

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

VSF > 40%

1400

1600

VSF=59%
0

200

400

5.Highway

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

VSF=32%

400

600

800

1000

1200

200

1400

1600

1400

1600

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1400

1600

3.Suburb

Time freqency
in Japan

200

1200

VSF=40%

6.Mountains

1000

VSF=30%

200

800

2.Urban

600

VSF=58%

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Driving Pattern in Japanese market

Cumulative
Frequency
Time
frequency
in Japan[%]
[%]

In Japanese market, the time frequency at VSF=40% is

76%.
4.High speed in mountains
5.Highway

100%

2.Urban

80%

76%

3.Suburb

60%

6.Mountains
40%

1.Heavy Traffic

Constant Speed

20%

Acceleration & Deceleration

0%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

Measurement

Driving Pattern of USA and China

Time frequency
every countries
[%]
CumulativeinFrequency
[%]

In the USA and China, the time frequency at VSF=40% is

more than 60%.
100%

Japan
USA
Europe
China

80%

60%

40%

Constant Speed

20%

0%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

Measurement

Driving Pattern of Europe

Time frequency
every countries
[%]
CumulativeinFrequency
[%]

In Europe, the time frequency at VSF=40% is 40%.

100%

Japan
USA
Europe
China

80%

60%

40%

Constant Speed

20%

0%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

Measurement

Driving Pattern of Europe

In Europe, at VSF=40% time share is 40%.

Cumulative Frequency [%]

100%

Japan
USA
Europe
China

80%

In Japan, USA and China, CVTs are better because the

60%
time frequency at VSF=40% is larger.
In40%
Europe, DCTs are better because the time
frequency at VSF=40% is smaller.
Constant Speed

20%

0%
0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Vehicle speed fluctuation [%]

60%

70%

Measurement

Contents

Introduction
Transmission performance
Competitiveness of CVT and DCT
Driving Pattern in the Real World
Summary

Summary

CVTs have an advantage of fuel consumption in many markets

because
CVTs have much higher engine operate efficiency than DCTs and
ATs.
Higher engine operate efficiency could alleviate additional fuel
consumption caused by vehicle speed fluctuation.
Vehicle speed fluctuation is large in the real world.

However, CVTs would lose the advantage if

Driving pattern in the real world changes greatly.
Transmission efficiency of DCTs greatly improves.

Thank you for your attention.