A method can be used to control a steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle that has two axles each with two wheels. Two front wheels can be steered by front-wheel steering and two rear wheels can be steered by rear-wheel steering. The motor vehicle includes a single wheel drive that is assigned to one of the two axles and drives the two wheels of the corresponding axle via a differential. The motor vehicle comprises an inboard braking system. The method involves checking the motor vehicle speed and activating rear-axle steering when a motor vehicle speed should be slower than 40 km/hr. With rear-axle steering active, the following steps are performed: deactivating front-wheel steering and rear-wheel steering, determining a reference position of a first steering rod via a reference wheel steering angle, determining a differential drive torque between the rear wheels to reach the reference position via a control unit.

An electrically controlled differential gear is disposed between a right front wheel and a left front wheel of a vehicle. The electrically controlled differential gear includes a clutch mechanism that limits a differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear. A second ECU (control portion) obtains information as to failure associated with actuation of a right front electric brake mechanism. The second ECU obtains a physical amount relating to a required braking force which is applied to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The second ECU outputs a differential limiting control command for limiting the differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear to the clutch mechanism (or more specifically, a differential ECU that controls the clutch mechanism) based on the information as to the failure and the physical amount relating to the required braking force.

An electrically controlled differential gear is disposed between a right front wheel and a left front wheel of a vehicle. The electrically controlled differential gear includes a clutch mechanism that limits a differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear. A second ECU (control portion) obtains information as to failure associated with actuation of a right front electric brake mechanism. The second ECU obtains a physical amount relating to a required braking force which is applied to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The second ECU outputs a differential limiting control command for limiting the differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear to the clutch mechanism (or more specifically, a differential ECU that controls the clutch mechanism) based on the information as to the failure and the physical amount relating to the required braking force.

A method can be used to control a steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle that has two axles each with two wheels. Two front wheels can be steered by front-wheel steering and two rear wheels can be steered by rear-wheel steering. The motor vehicle includes a single wheel drive that is assigned to one of the two axles and drives the two wheels of the corresponding axle via a differential. The motor vehicle comprises an inboard braking system. The method involves checking the motor vehicle speed and activating rear-axle steering when a motor vehicle speed should be slower than 40 km/hr. With rear-axle steering active, the following steps are performed: deactivating front-wheel steering and rear-wheel steering, determining a reference position of a first steering rod via a reference wheel steering angle, determining a differential drive torque between the rear wheels to reach the reference position via a control unit.

A dual-mode electric drive axle with torque parallel coupling and torque vectoring, including: a main motor, an auxiliary motor, a spur gear differential, a first half shaft, a second half shaft, a primary reducer, a secondary reducer, a dual-planetary gear set mechanism, a first clutch, a second clutch and a primary housing. The main motor and the auxiliary motor are respectively connected to input ends of the primary reducer and the secondary reducer. Output ends of the primary reducer and the secondary reducer are respectively connected to a housing of the spur gear differential and a gear ring of the dual-planetary gear set mechanism. A planet carrier of the dual-planetary gear set mechanism is connected to a sun gear through a first clutch, and a gear ring through a second clutch. A characteristic parameter of the dual-planetary gear set mechanism is 2.

A speed reduction assembly for an electric vehicle includes an electric machine configured to operate as a motor and as a generator. The electric machine includes an output shaft that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis at an output speed. The assembly also includes an output member coupled to the output shaft and rotatable about the longitudinal axis at a reduced speed. In addition, the assembly includes a pericyclic apparatus coupled to the output shaft and the output member to reduce the output speed of the output shaft to the reduced speed of the output member. A vehicle may include the speed reduction assembly in certain configurations. The vehicle includes a battery module and the electric machine is in electrical communication with the battery module to recharge the battery module when the electric machine operates as the generator.

A speed reduction assembly for an electric vehicle includes an electric machine configured to operate as a motor and as a generator. The electric machine includes an output shaft that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis at an output speed. The assembly also includes an output member coupled to the output shaft and rotatable about the longitudinal axis at a reduced speed. In addition, the assembly includes a pericyclic apparatus coupled to the output shaft and the output member to reduce the output speed of the output shaft to the reduced speed of the output member. A vehicle may include the speed reduction assembly in certain configurations. The vehicle includes a battery module and the electric machine is in electrical communication with the battery module to recharge the battery module when the electric machine operates as the generator.

A controllable differential system for a vehicle includes a differential that may be disengaged or engaged, and may further be locked when engaged. A differential lock switch has three positions for sending commands to an actuator for disengaging or engaging the differential and for sending commands to a controller for unlocking and locking the differential. The vehicle includes a motor, a transmission continuously connected to a rear drivetrain, and the differential mounted in a front drivetrain. The vehicle may be driven in rear-wheel drive mode when the differential is disengaged or in four-wheel drive mode when the differential is engaged. The vehicle may enforce a vehicle speed limitation or an engine speed limitation when the differential is locked while a manual override control is not activated. The vehicle may implement an anti-lock braking system that may be disabled when the differential is locked.

A controllable differential system for a vehicle includes a differential that may be disengaged or engaged, and may further be locked when engaged. A differential lock switch has three positions for sending commands to an actuator for disengaging or engaging the differential and for sending commands to a controller for unlocking and locking the differential. The vehicle includes a motor, a transmission continuously connected to a rear drivetrain, and the differential mounted in a front drivetrain. The vehicle may be driven in rear-wheel drive mode when the differential is disengaged or in four-wheel drive mode when the differential is engaged. The vehicle may enforce a vehicle speed limitation or an engine speed limitation when the differential is locked while a manual override control is not activated. The vehicle may implement an anti-lock braking system that may be disabled when the differential is locked.

A vehicle includes a powertrain having a powerplant and a clutch that selectively couples the powerplant to an axle. A controller is programmed to, in response to the powertrain being in a power-limiting routine, command a torque to the powerplant based on an error between a target slip of the clutch and a slip of the clutch.