Patent ID: 7314105

Claim:
A drive axle comprising: a first wheel end assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation; a second wheel end assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation; a first electric motor including a first motor output shaft that rotates about a first longitudinal axis and which is operably coupled to drive said first wheel end assembly; and a second electric motor including a second motor output shaft that rotates about a second longitudinal axis and which is operably coupled to drive said second wheel end assembly independently from said first wheel end assembly, and wherein said first electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a first distance, said second electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said second wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a second distance, and said first and second electric motors are spaced apart from each other along said lateral axis of rotation by a third distance, said first and second distances both being greater than said third distance.