The so-called continuously variable transmission (CVT, or ‘variable’, IVT) has its own share of design advantages, including smoother acceleration and better fuel economy. In the latest video by Banana Gear Studio, a toy car uses it to complete an obstacle course that a different gearbox would struggle with.
In the video, you can see with your eyes how the pulleys of the exposed gearbox start sliding as torque begins climbing up. Increased load causes the gear ratio to rise, and the greater the resistance becomes (such as when the car goes uphill), the bigger gear ratio it requires to overcome that resistance.
We suggest watching the vid just to get a simple and efficient reminder on how the CVT performs in various conditions and where it excels.