US 12,240,308 B2
Axle assembly for an electric vehicle, vehicle, and method for operating an axle assembly
Peter Petrov, Gothenburg (SE); and Håkan Lennström, Gothenburg (SE)
Assigned to Volvo Car Corporation, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by Volvo Car Corporation, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/526,185.
Claims priority of application No. 22210775 (EP), filed on Dec. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0181859 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. B60K 1/02 (2006.01); B60K 17/16 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 1/02 (2013.01) [B60K 17/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An axle assembly for an electric vehicle, comprising:
a first electric machine configured to minimize electromagnetic losses of the first electric machine in a first operational range;
a second electric machine configured to minimize electromagnetic losses of the second electric machine in a second operational range, wherein the second operational range is different from the first operational range;
a shaft comprising a singular pinion rotationally fixed to the shaft between a first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft opposite the first end, wherein the first electric machine is coupled to the first end of the shaft, and the second electric machine is coupled to the second end of the shaft, and wherein the shaft is supported on exactly two bearing units; and
a spur gear unit comprising at least one spur gear stage and a differential gear unit, the at least one spur gear stage being drivingly coupled to the differential gear unit,
wherein the singular pinion engages with a gear of the spur gear unit, and
wherein the differential gear unit comprises a first output flange for drivingly coupling a first wheel to the axle assembly and a second output flange for drivingly coupling a second wheel to the axle assembly.