Stellantis is experimenting with multi-speed transmissions to enhance the effectivity of electrical autos, a lately surfaced patent submitting signifies.
Printed by the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) Feb. 27, 2025, however initially filed by the automaker in 2023, the patent software offers particularly with including a second ahead gear to the drive modules through which electrical motors are sometimes packaged to be used in EVs.
Stellantis EV transmission patent picture
The doc focusing primarily on how the transmission would shift between the 2 gears. Stellantis discusses utilizing magnetic fluid, which is presently utilized in sure adaptive dampers. This fluid comprises ferrous metallic particles, which react to magnetic fields. This may very well be used to maneuver the shafts holding particular person gears into place in a extra environment friendly method versus standard hydraulically-actuated clutches, Stellantis claims.
Whereas this will simply be a case of patent writers making an attempt to cowl their authorized bases, the doc additionally refers to “electrified autos” quite than simply EVs, together with hybrids and plug-in hybrids like Stellantis’ Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and Jeep 4xe fashions. A separate 2-speed gearbox for an electrical motor as a part of a hybrid system is not unparalleled; Mercedes-Benz employs this complicated association in a few of its present AMG efficiency plug-in hybrids.
Stellantis EV transmission patent picture
That is the second current Stellantis patent submitting associated to a multi-speed transmission to be used with electrical motors. The primary was revealed by the USPTO in January 2024, however was targeted on off-road use and concerned a unique gear-actuation mechanism.
The Porsche Taycan stays essentially the most distinguished use of a multi-speed transmission in a manufacturing electrical automobile. Mercedes is slated to make use of one in future EVs as properly, and Lucid has patented one of its personal. Volkswagen has indicated that it will not be going this route, nonetheless, whereas Honda has designed a handbook transmission—full with clutch pedal—because it seems for tactics to win automobile lovers’ approval of its upcoming 0 Collection EVs.
