Instead of gears what does a CVT transmission use?

Although a CVT operates in a similar fashion as a traditional automatic transmission, they are quite different in their construction. A CVT doesn’t use any gears at all.

Instead, they rely on two cone-shaped pulleys to transfer power from the engine, through the transmission, and to the drive wheels. These pulleys are able to vary their width depending on power inputs, hence the name Continuously Variable Transmission. Working in tandem, these pulleys allow a CVT to accelerate with both smoothness and strength.