Patent ID: 7984777
Filing Date: 2011-07-26
Classification: B60K,B60L,Y02T,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle drive assembly, comprising: an engine; a transmission operably coupled with the engine; an output shaft operably coupled with the transmission, wherein the output shaft rotates according to an operation between the engine and the transmission; a differential operably coupled with the output shaft; an axle shaft rotatably coupled to the differential, wherein the axle shaft is rotated by the differential when the output shaft rotates; at least one wheel selectively coupled to the axle shaft via a rotatable axle stub wherein the at least one wheel is rotated according to a rotation of the axle shaft when the axle shaft is operably coupled to the axle stub; an electric wheel motor, disposed between the axle shaft and the rotatable axle stub, operably coupled to the at least one wheel via the rotatable axle stub, wherein the at least one wheel is rotated when the electric wheel motor provides a torque to the rotatable axle stub; and a coupling device housed within the electric wheel motor for selectively coupling the axle stub with the axle shaft, wherein the at least one wheel cannot be rotated by the engine via the axle shaft and can be rotated via the electric wheel motor when the axle shaft is not coupled to the axle stub.