Layout for electrical drive unit

1 . An electrical drive unit assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an electrical drive unit comprising:

an electric motor having a first transverse end extending in a first transverse direction and an opposite second transverse end extending in a second transverse direction, wherein the first transverse direction is opposite from the second transverse direction;

a motor shaft extending in the second transverse direction out of the motor;

a gearbox including a main gearbox portion and a transverse projection portion; and

a housing comprising:

a motor housing portion including a first transverse end extending in the first transverse direction, and a second transverse end extending in the second transverse direction; and

a main gearbox housing portion including a first transverse end extending in the first transverse direction, and a second transverse end extending in the second transverse direction,

wherein the motor housing portion and the main gearbox housing portion meet at the second transverse end of the motor housing portion and the first transverse end of the main gearbox housing portion,

wherein the housing comprises a central housing comprising a single cast and/or machined housing part that forms at least a portion of the main gearbox housing portion and at least a portion of the motor housing portion,

wherein the central housing includes a first transverse end extending in the first transverse direction, and a second transverse end extending in the second transverse direction,

wherein the motor includes a stator having a first transverse end in the first transverse direction and a second transverse end in the second transverse direction, and

wherein the first transverse end of the central housing extends in the first transverse direction beyond the first transverse end of the stator, such that the first transverse end of the stator exists entirely within the portion of the central housing forming the at least the portion of the motor housing portion,

wherein the motor shaft extends out of and past the second transverse end of the motor housing portion, past the first transverse end of the main gearbox housing portion, and into the main gearbox housing portion,

wherein the motor is attached to the gearbox via an input gear of the gearbox attached to the motor shaft, wherein the motor is located on a first transverse side of the main gearbox portion in the first transverse direction at least via the motor shaft,

wherein the transverse projection portion includes at least one gear of the gearbox and extends from the first transverse side of the main gearbox portion in the first transverse direction,

wherein the transverse projection portion and at least a portion of the at least one gear extends in the first transverse direction beyond the second transverse end of the motor housing portion,

wherein the first transverse end of the motor housing portion is located on a first side of a centerline of the electrical drive unit in the first transverse direction, and where the second transverse end of the motor housing portion is located on a second side of the centerline of the electrical drive unit in the second transverse direction, and

wherein the input gear is located entirely on the second side of the centerline of the electrical drive unit in the second transverse direction.

2 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main gearbox portion and the transverse projection portion together form an L-shape.

3 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox includes a differential section, and wherein the at least one gear in the transverse projection portion forms at least a part of the differential section.

4 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transverse projection portion includes a first opening on a first transverse side of the transverse projection portion in the first transverse direction, the first opening configured to receive a first drive shaft assembly, and wherein a second transverse side of the main gearbox portion in the second transverse direction includes a second opening configured to receive a second drive shaft assembly.

5 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 4 ,

wherein the first transverse end of the stator exists on a first side in the first transverse direction relative to the first transverse side of the transverse projection portion, and

wherein the second transverse end of the stator exists on an opposite second side in the second transverse direction relative to the first transverse side of the transverse projection portion.

6 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein a centerline of the gearbox is offset from the centerline of the electrical drive unit.

7 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein a centerline of the main gearbox portion is offset from the centerline of the electrical drive unit.

8 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a power inverter located on a second transverse side of the main gearbox portion in the second transverse direction.

9 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a gearbox cover configured to attach to a side of the central housing in the second transverse direction and enclose a plurality of gears of the gearbox within the main gearbox housing portion.

10 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 9 , wherein the main gearbox housing portion is formed at least in part by the gearbox cover.

11 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a power inverter attached to a second transverse side of the gearbox cover in the second transverse direction.

12 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the central housing further includes a housing portion that forms the transverse projection portion.

13 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 , wherein the motor, the at least one gear of the gearbox, and a plurality of other gears of the gearbox are mounted within the central housing.

14 . The electrical drive unit assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the electrical drive unit further comprises a parking brake located at least partially within the main gearbox housing portion, wherein the parking brake is configured to interface directly or indirectly with the motor shaft in order to implement a parking brake function.

15 . An electric vehicle comprising an electrical drive unit, the electrical drive unit comprising:

an electric motor having a first transverse end extending in a first transverse direction and an opposite second transverse end extending in a second transverse direction, wherein the first transverse direction is opposite from the second transverse direction;

a motor shaft extending in the second transverse direction out of the motor;

a gearbox including a main gearbox portion and a transverse projection portion; and

a housing comprising:

a motor housing portion including a first transverse end extending in the first transverse direction, and a second transverse end extending in the second transverse direction; and

a main gearbox housing portion including a first transverse end extending in the first transverse direction, and a second transverse end extending in the second transverse direction,

wherein the motor housing portion and the main gearbox housing portion meet at the second transverse end of the motor housing portion and the first transverse end of the main gearbox housing portion,

wherein the motor shaft extends out of and past the second transverse end of the motor housing portion, past the first transverse end of the main gearbox housing portion, and into the main gearbox housing portion,

wherein the second transverse end of the motor is attached to the gearbox on a first transverse side of the main gearbox portion in the first transverse direction,

wherein the transverse projection portion includes at least one gear of the gearbox and extends from the first transverse side of the main gearbox portion in the first transverse direction,

wherein the transverse projection portion and at least a portion of the at least one gear extends in the first transverse direction beyond the second transverse end of the motor housing portion,

wherein the first transverse end of the motor housing portion is located on a first side of a centerline of the electrical drive unit in the first transverse direction, and where the second transverse end of the motor housing portion is located on a second side of the centerline of the electrical drive unit in the second transverse direction,

wherein an interface between an input gear of the gearbox that is attached to the motor shaft and at least one other gear of the gearbox is located entirely on the second side of the centerline of the electrical drive unit in the second transverse direction,

wherein the transverse projection portion includes two drive shaft openings, and

wherein the electrical drive unit includes a battery voltage connector located such that the two drive shaft openings are situated between the battery voltage connector and the motor shaft.

16 . The electric vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the main gearbox portion and the transverse projection portion together form an L-shape.

17 . The electric vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a first drive shaft assembly and a second drive shaft assembly configured to enter the two drive shaft openings.

18 . The electric vehicle of claim 15 , wherein a centerline of the main gearbox portion is offset from a centerline of the electric vehicle.

19 . The electric vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the second transverse end of the motor extends over a centerline of the electric vehicle in the second transverse direction.

20 . The electric vehicle of claim 15 ,

wherein the gearbox includes a differential section, and wherein the at least one gear in the transverse projection portion forms at least a part of the differential section,

wherein the differential section includes a first transverse end in the first transverse direction and a second transverse end in the second transverse direction,

wherein the first transverse end of the differential section is on a first side of a centerline of the electric vehicle in the first transverse direction,

wherein the second transverse end of the differential section is on a second side of the centerline of the electric vehicle in the second transverse direction, and

wherein a centerline of the gearbox is offset from the centerline of the electric vehicle.