> Prius' CVT It should be noted the transmission in a Prius isn't really a CVT. A traditional mechanical-CVT can be slow to respond as it still requires the tr

> Prius' CVT It should be noted the transmission in a Prius isn't really a CVT. A traditional mechanical-CVT can be slow to respond as it still requires the transmission to mechanically move which means it can feel 'soft'. In the Prius' 'e-CVT' there is no mechanical linkage that needs to move, so it responds instantly. The electric motors can provide their full torque while the ICE is at 0 RPM, so when you push your foot down, you get a good amount of power without waiting for the engine to spin up to higher RPMs, as with a traditional automatic transmission (vs a mechanical transmission, where you can run the engine faster and use the clutch to limit the amount of power delivered to the wheels). This is why the Telsa's ludicrous mode is a thing - unlike an ICE, electric motors provide the highest torque from 0 RPM.