In January, 2011, Fallbrook announced a partnership with TEAM Industries to develop electric vehicle transmission prototypes. The first initiative under that joint effort was with Tomberlin and its new Anvil low-speed electric city car. Fallbrook, TEAM and Tomberlin are now exploring the application of Fallbrook’s NuVinci technology to additional Tomberlin product lines. Tomberlin has more than 10 models in its low-speed EV line-up.

William G. Klehm III, Chairman and CEO of Fallbrook Technologies said that the partners now believe market growth and the benefits of the NuVinci CVP technology make it appropriate to expedite their schedule of integrating NuVinci technology into Tomberlin’s Anvil while also evaluating similar initiatives with other Tomberlin product lines.

The demand for electric vehicles with improved range and capabilities is growing very rapidly, compelling us to speed up our development timeline to meet the rise in projected interest. We’ve engaged in additional strategic discussions with our valued partners, Tomberlin and TEAM, to make this a reality in the near term.

—William Klehm

Unlike conventional gear and clutch transmissions, the NuVinci CVP uses a set of rotating and tilting balls positioned between the input and output components of the transmission that adjust to vary the speed of the transmission. Tilting the balls changes their contact diameters and varies the speed ratio.