Stellantis Considers Two-Speed Transmission For Electric Vehicles

• Stellantis considers two-speed transmission for electric vehicles

According to a patent application filed by Stellantis with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the company is developing a two-speed transmission for off-road electric vehicles.

Most electric vehicles are equipped with a single-speed transmission because the instant availability of torque eliminates the need to use additional gears to regain torque by reducing engine speed.

However, Stellantis argues that the single-speed solution is not ideal for off-road vehicles.

The company explains that while off-road driving typically requires a lot of torque at low speeds, the gearing that enables this is not ideal for efficiency and range on the road. Stellantis therefore proposes one gear for highway driving and another for low-speed excursions off the beaten track.

The transmission itself would use two sets of planetary gears in a housing mounted between an electric motor and the half shafts of an axle, with clutches controlling torque output. These clutches would engage one of the two gears and control the output to the wheels.

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