Stellantis is designing a two-speed transmission to be used in electrical off-roaders, a newly surfaced patent submitting exhibits.
Most EVs (the Porsche Taycan being a notable exception) use single-speed transmissions, because the immediately accessible torque of electrical motors makes a number of gear ratios pointless. However in a patent software revealed by america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Jan. 23 (and initially filed on April 28, 2023), Stellantis argues that this might not be best for off-road autos.
The automaker notes that whereas off-roading usually requires loads of torque at low speeds, the gearing that makes this doable is not best for on-road effectivity and vary. So Stellantis proposes together with one gear for on-road driving and one for off-roading.
The transmission itself would use two planetary gear units in a housing mounted between an electrical motor and an axle’s half shafts, with clutches controlling torque output. These clutches would each have interaction one of many two gears and management output to the wheels.
The clutches may be used to rotate the half shafts in several instructions, permitting an EV “to rotate a couple of pivot level to permit improved mobility on low friction,” the applying states. That sounds a bit like Rivian’s shelved Tank Flip function, or the upcoming electrical Mercedes-Benz G-Class’ G-Flip function. Stellantis additionally mentions utilizing this {hardware} “to attain high-speed off-road maneuverability.”
A patent software doesn’t function affirmation of manufacturing plans, however Stellantis has been experimenting with electrical off-roaders with the Jeep Magneto ideas. That is possible in preparation for the next-generation Jeep Wrangler, which in response to a union doc can be bought solely as both an EV or collection plug-in hybrid.
