Patent ID: 6041877
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F16H,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
In a driving force transmitting system that modifies a conventional four-wheel drive vehicle to a two-wheel drive hybrid vehicle, wherein the conventional four-wheel drive vehicle includes (a) an internal combustion engine for generating a driving force, (b) a transmission connected to the engine via a clutch, (c) a first differential mechanically connected to the transmission and provided to absorb a speed difference between a first pair of left and right wheels, and (d) a transfer unit mounting portion provided outside the transmission, wherein the improvement comprises:an electric motor mounted on the transfer unit mounting portion in place of a transfer unit, wherein the electric motor is operatively connected, via the first differential, to drive the first pair of left and right wheels, andwherein the hybrid vehicle operates in a two-wheel drive operating mode, wherein the first pair of left and right wheels are driven by the internal combustion engine, the electric motor, or both.