Tesla Motors Club

So I’ve read through the earlier forum discussions on gearboxes for EVs, but was hoping we could start one specific to Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). It seems to me that there could be some serious benefit to engineering an effective marriage of EV powertrain to a CVT, but I’m interested to hear what the brain trust has to say.

Here’s some evidence:
1) This article validated the improvement in torque off the line and vehicle top speed by modifying a two-wheeled EV with a CVT. Note the negligible range impact in Table 1.
2) The upcoming Lito Sora has successfully applied this concept to a high-performance E-Bike
3) The 2012 Nissan Maxima (290 hp / 261 ft-lb) has specs similar to the Tesla Roadster, and utilizes CVT technology. The 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid (280 hp / 215 ft-lb) isn’t quite as similar, but incorporates electric motors and a CVT.
4) This article talks about a 2-speed gearbox can reduce battery consumption 5-10% by keeping the operating range nearer to its sweet spot. A properly-tuned CVT should have further benefit.

Just a quick list of pros/cons I’ve come up with:

Pros:
Faster acceleration
Higher top speed
Longer range

Cons:
Cost
Weight
Complexity
Reliability
Traction Response
Regen (?)

Disclaimer: I understand that the direct drive of Tesla’s current and proposed models are more than adequate for typical drivers… this is more of a “what if” to show CVT possibilities in the utility, commercial, and racing vehicle markets. As such, please don’t bomb the thread with “why do you want…” comments or miscellaneous widgets (battery/motor/wheels, etc) that may also improve performance.

Thx in advance & have fun!