Re: Mercedes question

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
" 
" Fuel efficiency is why they're going with large numbers of gears in 
" automatic transmissions. The goal is to keep the engine at peak efficiency 
" as much as possible (which makes me wonder why CVT transmissions haven't 
" caught on).

belt/pulley cvts are very hard to engineer for capacity, and if the
belts are rubber, for efficiency.  i don't know about hydrostatic
transmissions except they require extremely tight tolerances, and that
means expense - and then there's the plumbing, and maintenance.
electric transmisison has potential, especially in combination with
batteries, but i think weight is still a problem.

hydrostatic and electric do have interesting possibilities for all
wheel drive.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen

adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought