Introduction We are constantly looking for ways to perform tasks essential to our lifestyle in ways that have less impact on the environment. In the United States, automobiles are extremely common, with nearly twenty percent of American households owning three or more vehicles (US Department of Energy Web). These vehicles are also one of the largest contributors to our impact on the environment. Most cars use automatic transmission, although not very efficient, it offers the convenience of not changing gear. Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) can now meet society's goal of reducing our impact on the environment with the convenience of automatic transmission. To make the vehicle more fuel efficient, every aspect of the vehicle must be designed as efficiently as possible. As the internal combustion engine approaches perfection in terms of efficiency, manufacturers are focusing on transmission design. Automatic transmissions are the most commonly used in vehicles today. These automatic transmissions are not very energy efficient compared to other forms of transmission. Manual transmissions are much more fuel efficient in comparison. A third type of transmission is a continuously variable transmission. It combines the convenience of an automatic transmission and the fuel efficiency of a manual transmission. Manual transmissions ideally offer the best fuel efficiency compared to automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions are transmissions that require the driver to shift gears. Many drivers of manual transmission cars will burn gas by accelerating too quickly or driving in a gear that provides the wrong ratio to maximize efficiency. The efficiency of both manual and automatic transmissions......middle of paper......bal Ecological solutions. Global Ecology Solutions, March 23, 2011. Web. March 7, 2013. Behrens, Carl E., Michael Ratner, and Carol Glover. Rep. Np: np, nd Fas.org. Federation of American Scientists, 28"How dependent is the United States on foreign oil?" Eia.gov. U.S. Energy Information Administration, July 16, 2012. Web. April 2, 2013. Governor's Office of Energy. “Maine Energy Profile.” Energy profile of the state of Maine. Np: np, nd 7-8. Press. Nissan Advanced Technologies - PURE DRIVE." The Truth About Cars. Nissan, nd Web. March 7, 2013. "Fuel Freedom Foundation." Fuel Freedom. Np, 2013. Web. April 02. 2013. .