Quick shifts for the common man

When it comes to quick gear changes, the fastest gearboxes available are the dual-clutch systems such as Audi’s DSG or Porsche’s PDK. The system has the odd and even numbered gears on two separate shafts with a set of clutches for each. When a gear change is needed, a computer automatically, and instantly, disengages one clutch and engages the other, providing a lightning quick gear change.

The problem with this is of course is that the system is extremely complicated, heavy and expensive, to manufacture as well as to maintain. Now motorsport transmission specialist Xtrac has applied its high performance engineering skills to design and develop a seamless gearchange known as IGS or Instantaneous Gearchange System. IGS is small, lightweight, and is now ready for commercial development in motorcycles, electric vehicles, cars, trucks and buses.

With traditional gearboxes there has always been a problem that the driver had to momentarily cut engine torque in order to change gear. This increases the fuel consumption of the engine and reduces performance. The secret to Xtrac IGS is the integration of a ratchet and pawl mechanism between each gear hub and the main shaft so that two consecutive gear ratios can be selected and engaged simultaneously, but with only one set of gears driving. This not only provides the benefits of a dual clutch transmission, like rapid gear changes, but also decreases fuel consumption in the long run. On top of that, the system is quite cheap to manufacture and maintain.

Xtrac says that the initial development will focus on improving the efficiency of electric vehicle powertrains, with a study that is already underway to implement IGS into a two-speed EV transmission with the aim of ensuring the optimum performance of the vehicle.