Electric Vehicle Drive Units Longitudinal Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle travel drives are not optimally designed for motor sports, as they lack a favorable power-to-weight ratio, high inertias, and an elevated center of gravity, which affects handling and roll during high-speed cornering.
Innovation Solution
The drive units are arranged one behind the other along the vehicle's centerline, with a slight forward and backward offset, and inclined at a horizontal angle, allowing for a low center of gravity and reduced cardan joint losses, while the brake disc is positioned close to the centerline to concentrate weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If drive units are arranged side by side on the axle line, then the structure is simple and compact, but the center of gravity is elevated and weight distribution is unfavorable for racing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a lateral arrangement (side by side on the axle line) to a longitudinal arrangement (one behind the other along the centerline). This dimensional change in the spatial configuration of drive units enables concentration of heavy components near the vehicle centerline and low position, achieving optimal weight distribution for racing applications while maintaining structural compactness
2Weight of moving object
If drive units are arranged one behind the other along the centerline, then weight distribution is optimized and center of gravity is lowered, but the cardan shaft length and cardan joint losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by inclining the drive units at a specific horizontal angle relative to the transverse direction of the vehicle. This angular parameter adjustment optimizes the cardan shaft orientation, minimizing cardan joint losses while preserving the longitudinal arrangement benefits for weight distribution and center of gravity positioning
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle is designed for low center of gravity, then handling is improved and roll is reduced, but the design becomes less adaptable to other vehicle types requiring higher ground clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic suspension systems with adjustable spring deflection characteristics. By making the suspension compliant and adjustable, the vehicle can accommodate the low-mounted drive units while maintaining adaptability to different operating conditions and vehicle types, including those requiring increased ground clearance through suspension adjustment rather than fixed low positioning
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A drive system for an electrically powered vehicle is proposed, with left and right vehicle wheels (1, 2) arranged on a common axle line (A) and with separate drive units (11, 12) for the left and right vehicle wheels. Each drive unit (11, 12) is connected to the wheel hub (18) of the respective vehicle wheel (1, 2) via a driveshaft (20) equipped with at least one cardan joint (20A, 20B). On a common axle (A1, A2), the drive unit comprises at least one electric motor (24), a transmission (25), and an output element (26) for connection to the driveshaft (20). To create a drive system suitable for electrically powered vehicles, and especially for vehicles intended for use in motorsport, with particular attention paid to optimized weight distribution within the vehicle, the two drive units (11, 12) are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.