Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with discrete gear ratios for hybrid vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on November 12th, 2020, published on February 1st, 2022, and assigned serial number 11236825B1.
The Ford Authority Take
While this Ford patent refers to the transmission as an eCVT, the unit depicted is not mechanically related to units of the same name from other automakers such as Nissan or Honda, as it’s a planetary gearset. However, this Ford patent does suggest that the automaker is looking to potentially mimic those units with discrete ratios for hybrid vehicles, such as the transmission currently used in the 2022 Honda Civic Sport, which comes standard with a CVT with discrete gear ratios and paddle shifters.
There are a number of vehicles in Ford’s current lineup that could benefit from this type of technology, which uses no physical step gears, unlike a traditional transmission. Those models include the Ford Maverick Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Escape PHEV, and Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring, to name a few. Vehicles such as the Ford F-150 PowerBoost, Ford Explorer PHEV, and Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring would not benefit from this technology as they utilize a special version of Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission, currently.
Additionally, the next-generation S650 2023 Ford Mustang is also expected to be available with two hybrid engine options – electrified versions of the existing 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 and 5.0L Coyote V8 – and could benefit from such a transmission as well, though current models powered by gas versions of those engines also utilize Ford’s 10-speed automatic gearbox.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford trademark news, Ford business news, and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
Will these CVTs mimic the failure rates as well?
Why is there one “discreet” in this article? You were doing so well.
I have a question! why isn’t the Ford Maverick 4×4 with the 2.0 liter engine flat towable such as behind a motorhome? If there is a way to make that happen your could sell 100K of them tomorrow!! I would be one of the buyers!! Any input would be appreciated.
Because it’s based on an escape which hasn’t been flat towable for a long time. And it adds cost to a vehicle that Ford was trying to squeeze cost out of.
Also, the market is not nearly as big as you’re making it sound. There’s maybe 100k large motorhomes sold every year. And they certainly aren’t all flat towing a vehicle.
Lastly, Ford has no problem selling Mavericks, they don’t need to chase this market. Get a 2WD model with a dolly if you want it that bad.
So you need a dolly to tow the hybrid Maverick?
too bad ya cant build them for all the people that have ordered them !!! china is laughing at the “chip” plants