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Is the generation 3 considered to be a two-speed transmission?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Tombukt2, Feb 13, 2024.

  1. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I was reading the advertisement for a I don't know I think a 2013 CT 200H Lexus and it claimed in the ad that it had a two-speed CVT Is this the same as we have in the Prius? I'm not really a transmission guy I do know we have a CVT. I was just wondering if the CT 200H advertisement was incorrect or maybe this is why it gets seemingly quite a bit less gas mileage?.
     
    #1 Tombukt2, Feb 13, 2024
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    There's definitely nothing about the gen 3 Prius transmission that would justify calling it "two speed". Duná Žno if anything is different about the CT 200H.

    Whole idea of counting "speeds" in a continuously-variable transmission is weird to begin with.

    There have been some two-mode transmission designs over the years.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Feb 13, 2024
    Danno5060 and Tombukt2 like this.
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    That's what I thought. I have CVTs on my big bore scooters there's no shifting that's continuously variable these two sheaves move in and out and move a belt made out of whatever up and down to change the gearing look similar in a car made the similar way by looking at videos of internals of these transmissions.
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Feb 13, 2024
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    I think the Gen3 has a second planetary gearset, but that's only there to reduce the MG1 speeds (no more 6500RPM limiting everything).


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #4 mr_guy_mann, Feb 13, 2024
  5. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    The Lexus has worse aero design than the Prius, and likely a little more weight. Same reason the Prius V is worse vs regular Gen3.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 mr_guy_mann, Feb 13, 2024
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The second planetary in Gen 3 is between MG2 and the PSD. It's an MG2 speed reduction gear: it allows MG2 to be smaller and lighter and spin faster, with its speed reduced and torque increased on the way to the PSD.
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Feb 13, 2024
  7. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Maybe the two speeds refer to the D and B modes?
     
    #7 pasadena_commut, Feb 18, 2024
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If so, it's just somebody being goofy. It's still a CVT, however you wiggle the shifter knob.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Feb 18, 2024
  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    But they are not different speeds.
     
    #9 fuzzy1, Feb 18, 2024
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