POWERTRAIN
The CountertrackCV joint can better balance internal forces to improve effi ciency
EV sideshafts must be stronger
and more durable to withstand the vehicle’s increased torque demand
Despite their shorter length, EV
sideshafts must be stronger and more durable to withstand the vehicle’s increased torque demand, while avoiding a signifi cant increase in size to remain as eff icient and cost- eff ective as possible. At the same time, suppliers must
contend with diff ering dynamic characteristics, with electrifi ed powertrains providing much higher torque and torque gradients than ICE-powered vehicles. Although the improved acceleration and near- instant torque availability is part of the appeal, it relies on more robust sideshafts to manage the higher torque across a wider power band.
OPTIMISING FOR EVS To navigate these changes, it’s vital that suppliers look to deliver solutions that have been optimised for EVs and their diff erent hardware requirements.
This presents considerable opportunities to advance technologies that fulfi l the new technical requirements for EV sideshafts. To take an example, GKN
Automotive’s Countertrack CV joints use opposed tracks that better balance the internal forces, resulting in eff iciency improvements, while reducing friction and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), to which EVs are particularly sensitive. The improved eff iciency helps to increase the range of the vehicle, which presents a real advantage in the case of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). By increasing the stiff ness of an
EV sideshaft, it is possible to reduce wheel spin and extreme vibrations, off ering greater torque control in spite of the hard acceleration. In fact, there is great potential in this area, which is why GKN Automotive has developed a range of solutions with increased
stiff ness for better oscillation control. Forecasts indicate that future
electric vehicles will have a longer lifetime than today’s ICE vehicles as a result of the improved eff iciency of the whole system. Reducing wear and heat generation – without compromising the set of other parameters – will improve not only the longevity, but also performance, which is essential for electric applications. Therefore, a balanced and eff icient system design, with the lowest possible material consumption, is vital to manufacturing driveline components that are fi t for the future.
Christian Carlando is Director of Customer Engineering in Europe at GKN Automotive:
www.gknautomotive.com
www.engineerlive.com 09
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