gearbox

Electric bicycles may require less pedaling effort than regular bikes, but … their riders still have to shift gears. Paris-based electric mobility company Valeo is out to change that, by combining a motor with an automatic gearbox.

The Pinion gearbox is a sealed gear-shifting mechanism that's located adjacent to a bike's bottom bracket. Not only will it not get gunked up like a derailleur, but it's also better protected against damage. Now, Cinq has introduced a system that allows it to be shifted more conventionally.

A successful test has seen Rolls-Royce claim the world record for the world's most powerful aerospace gearbox​ with its Power Gearbox. Capable of handling the power from around 400 regular family cars, it will form a key part of Rolls-Royce's next-generation UltraFan engine.

​Having pulled 750 tonnes with its new i-Shift gearbox, Volvo has upped the stakes to show off just what dual-clutch tech can offer the heavy vehicle world. The latest stunt to emerge involves a paraglider, a mountain pass and a truck, and aims to demonstrate how smooth the gearbox really is.

​Rolls-Royce has inched a step closer to putting its upcoming TurboFan into production, having successfully run the world's most powerful aerospace gearbox for the first time.

Downsized turbo engines capable of punching well above their weight are the new norm, along with clever gearboxes packing a huge spread of ratios. Kia is the latest brand to develop an efficient new gearbox, launching a new lightweight eight-speeder to work with its upcoming front-wheel drive cars.

Having launched its i-shift dual-clutch gearbox in 2014, Volvo has now added crawler gears to the system in an attempt to broaden its appeal. Unsatisfied with a traditional launch, the company has shown off the transmission by pulling a 750-tonne load from standstill.

Shifting gears can be a hassle, which is why a growing number of bicycle manufacturers are outfitting their bikes with the NuVinci N360 continuously-variable hub transmission. Now, NuVinci has announced the lower-priced NuVinci N330, which is designed to bring the technology to less costly bikes.

Developed as part of the MAGDRIVE research project, a new frictionless transmission gear and corresponding contactless axles have been created using superconductor magnetic levitation. Aimed primarily for use in spacecraft, the system is also adaptable for use in automobiles, railways, and aircraft.

While shifts between the sprockets on a bike's cassette are generally quite fast, going between the chainrings up front is definitely a slower, more awkward affair. In an effort to make things quicker and easier, Efneo has developed a 3-speed planetary gearbox to replace the front derailleur.

How many gears are too many for the average commuter vehicle? If you’re pulling a load of cattle across Saskatchewan, then a semi-tractor unit with nine gears should suffice. But if you’re Volkswagen, then the magic number for your upcoming models is in fact 10.