GKN Driveline (
www.gkn.com/Pages/default.aspx) has continued its global electric axle drive partnership with the BMW Group, supplying eAxle technology for a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X1 for the Chinese market.
The system is part of the same scalable family of eAxles used in the plug-in hybrid BMW 2 Series Active Tourer 225xe.
GKN Driveline CEO Phil Swash said: “This latest programme launch for the BMW Group in China shows GKN’s global leadership in electric drive systems.
“From the i8 sports car to the X1, GKN’s work with the BMW Group reflects our position as the development partner of choice for the new wave of plug-in hybrids with electric AWD.”
Peter Moelgg, chief executive of GKN Driveline’s AW&E Drive business, added: “Automakers’ evolving powertrain strategies require suppliers with a focus on the mass production of key technologies — and system integration capability.
“The combination of our proven driveline innovation experience, all-wheel-drive expertise and eAxle production capabilities is making eAWD viable in compact vehicles.
“GKN’s hardware and software expertise is also supporting the development of future platforms; these will need driveline suppliers to interface effectively with the rest of the vehicle’s electronic architecture.”
The system for this latest application will be supplied from GKN’s facility in Bruneck, Italy, but application and development work for the technology was undertaken by GKN’s operations in Shanghai, China.
Designed for compact-car applications, GKN’s single-speed unit has a transmission ratio of 12.5:1 and reduces the electric-motor speed in two stages.
The system generates up to 2,000Nm and 70kW of additional torque and power — sufficient for a vehicle’s pure electric mode to achieve speeds up to 125kph and for an all-wheel-drive (AWD) mode that accelerates faster than conventional mechanical AWD systems.
The electric axle weighs just 20.2kg, and its compact dimensions facilitate packaging and installation in smaller vehicles (it is 457mm long, 229mm wide and 259mm high).
When hybrid operation is not required, a dog clutch disconnects the e-machine from the driveline, minimising losses at higher vehicle speeds.