A gear box having a gear set therein for mounting to the outside of a housing of an axle assembly and connected to the input shaft of the differential of the axle assembly can allow high speed electric motor(s) to connect to the differential via the gear box for driving the axle assembly. The gear box can be mounted using existing bolt hole pattern on the axle assembly housing such as the input cover of the axle head assembly housing the differential. The gear set can be a planetary gear set where the rotor of the electric motor can be rotationally connected to the sun gear and the carrier gear can be connected to the input pinion shaft. In another embodiment an axle assembly having a differential can also have a gear box mounted to the outside of the axle housing and connected to the input pinion shaft to allow use of a high speed electric motor by providing an appropriate gear ratio conversion.

A power transmission system for a vehicle and a vehicle including the same are provided. The power transmission system includes: an engine unit configured to generate a power; an input shaft; an output shaft configured to transfer at least partial of the power from the input shaft; an output unit configured to rotate differentially relative to the output shaft; a synchronizer disposed on the output shaft and configured to selectively engage with the output unit such that the output unit rotates synchronously with the output shaft, and the output unit is configured to output power to drive one or more front and/or rear wheels of the vehicle; a first motor generator configured to directly or indirectly couple with one of the input shaft and the output shaft for power transmission; and a second motor generator configured to drive one or more front or rear wheels of the vehicle.

A driving system includes a drive source for driving a left drive portion and a right drive portion, a power transmission mechanism having first and second differential mechanisms each including a first rotating element, a second rotating element and a third rotating element and a switching unit. The first rotating elements of the first and second differential mechanisms are connected to each other so as to rotate in the same direction, the second rotating elements of the first and second differential elements are connected to the left drive portion and the right drive portion, respectively, and the third rotating elements of the first and second differential mechanisms are connected to each other so as to rotate in opposite directions.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a differential assembly for allowing a vehicle to switch between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The differential assembly includes a bearing assembly positioned between a race gear and output hubs. An armature plate is rotationally coupled to the bearing assembly and a clutch plate is positioned to engage the armature plate. A biasing member biases the clutch plate to engage the armature plate and allow the bearing assembly to transmit torque between the race gear and output hubs. When electricity is provided to an electromagnet, the electromagnet exerts a magnetic force on the clutch plate that is sufficient to overcome the bias of the biasing member so the clutch plate does not engage the armature plate and the bearing assembly does not transmit torque from the race gear to the output hubs.

A final drive assembly for a vehicle drive axle having first and second axle-shafts that are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The final drive assembly includes a first gear-set configured to be operatively connected to the first axle-shaft. The final drive assembly also includes a second gear-set configured to be operatively connected to the second axle-shaft. The final drive assembly additionally includes an electric motor configured to provide an electric motor torque input to each of the first and second gear-sets and arranged on a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.

A driving system includes a drive source for driving a left drive portion and a right drive portion, a power transmission mechanism having a first and second differential mechanisms each including a first rotating element, a second rotating element and a third rotating element and a switching unit. The first rotating elements of the first and second differential mechanisms are connected to each other so as to rotate in the same direction, the second rotating elements of the first and second differential elements are connected to the left drive portion and the right drive portion, respectively, and the third rotating elements of the first and second differential mechanism are connected to each other so as to rotate in opposite directions.

A power split hybrid transaxle includes an axis transfer chain and a final drive planetary gear set. The components are arranged such that the power split planetary gear set is opposite the final drive planetary gear set with both located at the front of the transmission. This minimized the axial length of the transaxle by limiting the number of components that must be staggered axially. Furthermore, this permits use of electric machines with a large diameter and short axial length which also reduces the total axial length of the transaxle.

In a differential that is part of a selectively disconnectable or connectable secondary powertrain, a clutch device allows the input member of the differential, via which driving power is introduced into the differential, to be uncoupled from the output members to which the driving power is forwarded in a branched manner in order to be able to completely shut off part of the secondary powertrain in the disconnected state.

An integrated pinion shaft and constant velocity joint (PS/CVJ) assembly for use in motor vehicle driveline applications to transfer torque between a propshaft and a ring gear. The PS/CVJ assembly includes a pinion shaft having a pinion gear segment meshed with the ring gear and a hollow pinion shaft segment. The PS/CVJ assembly also includes a constant velocity joint having an inner race coupled to the propshaft and an outer race integral with or fixed to an end portion of the pinion shaft segment.

A final drive assembly for a vehicle drive axle having first and second axle-shafts that are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The final drive assembly includes a first gear-set configured to be operatively connected to the first axle-shaft. The final drive assembly also includes a second gear-set configured to be operatively connected to the second axle-shaft. The final drive assembly additionally includes an electric motor configured to provide an electric motor torque input to each of the first and second gear-sets and arranged on a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.