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GKN Touts 2-Speed Axle for Electrified Powertrains
GKN plc says its two-speed eAxle for electric powertrains cuts system weight, improve acceleration and enables a more efficient parallel hybrid architecture.
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GKN plc says its two-speed eAxle for electric powertrains cuts system weight, improve acceleration and enables a more efficient parallel hybrid architecture.
The GKN axle debuted on BMW AG's i8 plug-in hybrid sports car. The compact 60-lb unit measures 12.8 x 22 x 12.3 inches and sits on the transmission's input shaft.
The software-controlled eAxle shifts gears at input shaft speeds as high as 11,400 rpm. GKN says the system is 97% efficient, generates low gear noise and delivers smooth shifts undetectable by the driver. Providing a second gear at the axle permits designers to downsize the vehicle's electric propulsion motor by more closely matching gear ratios to motor torque characteristics.
In a typical layout, the vehicle's primary piston engine powers the front or rear axle, and the eAxle and electric motor drive the other two wheels. GKN developed the axle in only 24 months.
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