A UK-based transmission technology specialist has received a huge boost after it was awarded a project by the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board to develop a high efficiency two-speed transmission for electric vehicles.

The project has been awarded to Antonov Plc, in association with Jaguar and MIRA, and will run for 12 months with the aim of demonstrating the transmission in a vehicle application.

Currently, Antonov’s main product is the TX6 transmission – a six-speed, electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated and transverse automatic gearbox. The company is also involved in the development of two-speed automatic gearboxes that optimise the performance and efficiency of engine accessories including alternators.

The two-speed mechanical module technology is based on a mechanical shift for an automatic transmission that was invented 20 years ago by Roumen Antonov. The principle is to control a gear shift from a speed increasing ratio between 1:1.2 and 1:1.9 and a direct drive 1:1.

As the input speed increases, the axial force overcomes the other two forces and the technology shifts from over-speeding to direct drive. Then, as the input speed decreases, the force created decreases until it can no longer overcome the spring and gear axial forces and it shifts to the over-speeding ratio.

It is believed that in addition to optimising engine accessories, the technology could also be used in all-terrain vehicles and boats.