“Technically, the main challenge for the transmission was to come up with a compact design using modern lightweight and high strength materials that could be packaged in the space available without compromising the reliability and efficiency of the transmission,” said Xtrac managing director Peter Digby. ”The additional challenge for this vehicle was to deliver low noise and a high level of refinement.”
This prototype transmission combines the output from the two electric motors to drive the super luxury car via a rear mounted differential - the final part of an electric powertrain all neatly housed at the rear of the vehicle.
The electric motors are mounted on either side of the transmission, driving a series of constant mesh gears with an overall ratio of approximately 6-to-1. The transmission features a lightweight aluminium alloy casing.
“Lightness is the key to fuel economy and the gains made in motorsport for ever lighter but stronger solutions provide valuable technical insights applicable to modern passenger and utility vehicles,” said Xtrac general manager for automotive Clive Woolmer. “Whether for a pure electric vehicle or hybrid with range extending capabilities, Xtrac has gained considerable experience in this field enabling it to supply geartrain solutions optimised for efficiency and power transfer. For a super luxury electric vehicle, where refinement is also paramount, we can now additionally demonstrate an outstanding acoustic performance, which will become another important criterion for electric vehicle applications generally.”
Other new systems incorporated into the newly developed 102EX include a new battery system from Axeon and HaloIPT wireless charging technology.
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