Does the cybertruck shift gears?

Cyberman

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Teslas do have transmissions but they are single speed transmissions. No gear shifting. That is the huge advantage electric motors have over ICE ones. They can supply virtually constant torque at any speed , even 0, up to the point where torque must be limited to stay within the power limitations.

Note that AWD Teslas have more than one transmission (the TM CT will have 3). The front and rear transmissions may not have the same gear ratio but there is no question of shifting gears. At least one BEV (Porsche?) does have 2 gears.
Transmission implies shifting gears.
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ajdelange

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Transmission implies transmission. Period. A transmission system may have no gears at all or gears in a fixed ratio (as is the case here) or sets of gears in different ratios (traditional 5- speed) or the ratio may be continuously variable (hybrids).

Do a search on "single speed transmission".
 
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ajdelange

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I have no idea what transitional components are used by Tesla to go from the motor to the wheel, but I know it's not a transmission.
If you have no idea about what it is wouldn't it be better to not venture an opinion as to what it isn't? The "thing" that transmits the power from the motor to the wheels involves a set of reduction gears as does any other gear based transmission. The difference here is that it is a "constant speed transmission". It obnly has one reduction ratio.

How do you explain graphics like this one?

Tesla Cybertruck Does the cybertruck shift gears? Tesla S trans



Oxford Dictionary of Mechanical Engineering: "The system that transmits power and torque from a power source; for example a shaft, belts and pulleys, or a gear train . In the case of a motor vehicle, it includes the gearbox, clutch , propeller shaft , differential and final drive shafts..."
 
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SSonnentag

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Teslas do have transmissions but they are single speed transmissions. No gear shifting. That is the huge advantage electric motors have over ICE ones. They can supply virtually constant torque at any speed , even 0, up to the point where torque must be limited to stay within the power limitations.

Note that AWD Teslas have more than one transmission (the TM CT will have 3). The front and rear transmissions may not have the same gear ratio but there is no question of shifting gears. At least one BEV (Porsche?) does have 2 gears.
Teslas don't have transmissions. They do have differentials though.
 

ajdelange

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They do have differentials though.
That fact alone makes them transmissions via the Oxford definition.

I am getting curious, though, as to why a couple of you don't think they are transmissions. What do you think a tranmission is or what things or properties do you think power tranmitting equipment must have to qualify it as a "transmission" defined as you think it should be defined?

BTW the Rivian and CT rear transmissions do not and will not contain differentials. But as they "..transmit power and torque from a power source; for example a shaft, belts and pulleys, or a gear train" they are still covered under the definition of "transmission".
 

Bill906

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Leave it to ajdelange to be pedantic.
The word transmission has many definitions. Just like in other threads AJ likes to pick one definition and waste all of our time as he attempts to argue he is right based on the ONE definition he's clinging too. If the u-joints failed on the driveshaft of my car the mechanic would not say he needs to replace my transmission. If AJ's definition was the only definition he would be right. Fortunately it is not.
 

Firetruck41

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It certainly does not have a transmission in the sense of the common use of the word in the automotive world, where it usually refers to a set of multiple gears/ratios with which to keep the ICE in its optimal power/efficiency range at the vehicles current speed. What electric cars have are much more akin to a differential.

As far as the graphic from the warranty company... they probably have a graphic about the fuel filter replacement cost or fuel injection repair... not exactly the kind of site I would use for this argument.

You can't believe everything you see on the internet. Here's a screenshot from KBB (Kelley Blue Book):
Tesla Cybertruck Does the cybertruck shift gears? Screenshot_20210915-123151_Chrome
 

ajdelange

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It certainly does not have a transmission in the sense of the common use of the word in the automotive world, where it usually refers to a set of multiple gears/ratios with which to keep the ICE in its optimal power/efficiency range at the vehicles current speed. What electric cars have are much more akin to a differential.
Oh, O.K. I think I understand. Would you just be so kind, then, to explain to me to which part of my car this bit from the manual is referring?

Tesla Cybertruck Does the cybertruck shift gears? Tesla Trans
 


Firetruck41

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Oh, O.K. I think I understand. Would you just be so kind, then, to explain to me to which part of my car this bit from the manual is referring?

Tesla Trans.png
I would call it a Reduction Gear, like Nissan calls it. But you and the Tesla manual can call it a transmission! Just realize when you talk to most people, they won't consider it as a transmission.
 

ajdelange

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I would call it a Reduction Gear, like Nissan calls it. But you and the Tesla manual can call it a transmission! Just realize when you talk to most people, they won't consider it as a transmission.
Anyone who knows anything about automotive engineering would understand me if referred to the transmission in a Tesla as a transmission. As the most likely context would be in talking to someone at Tesla about it (e.g. service) I think even you can see that it is probably best if I refer to it by the name Tesla uses. Among the ignorant, i agree, there is a good chance that I would be misunderstood but then I am usually misunderstood by the ignorant in any context.

I'll have to cut you some slack here as this particular bit of ignorance is quite prevalent. NIssan engineers, of course, refer to the transmission in the Leaf as its transmission but I do find things like the tale of the guy who posted that when he heard noises from his Leaf and took it in the dealer told him the transmission would have to be replaced. Someone immediately replied that the dealer was trying to rip him off because the Leaf doesn't have a transmission. There are also articles in pop auto mags and on the net that explain that BEV don't have transmissions because they are single speed. Clearly these authors are ignorant (it's often clear from the whole article that this is the case). But I'll ask again, without any expectation of an answer "How does the fact that a transmission is single speed disqualify it from being a transmission?" Can you show me any acceptable definition of the term that includes that requirement? Are you aware that helicopters have single speed reduction gearing that is referred to as the transmission? Are you aware that my boat has single speed reduction gearing?

When you propagate this foolishness (that the Tesla/Leaf have no transmission) you only contribute to the spread of this ignorance. Why do you wish to do that?
 

ajdelange

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There's always direct drive.
If there is a drive shaft then that is the transmission but i think we can agree that the Lordstown Endurance has no transmission.
 

Ogre

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ajdelange is right, it's a transmission.

The big problem is, mechanics have been lying to people for years. When they say they are pulling the transmission out of your car, they are usually referring to one component, not the whole thing. The component mechanics refer to as "the transmission" is probably better termed "the gearbox", though that is kind of vague. ajdelange probably got fired from multiple mechanics for arguing this point, but he is right.

Technically, everything between the wheels and the motor is the "Transmission", the part mechanics refer to as the transmission, the driveshaft, the differentials, the transfer case (4WD), etc etc.

Can we stop arguing about stupidly named car parts now?
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