Patent ID: 8100208

Claim:
A vehicle wheel drive system comprising: a transmission assembly configured to drive a vehicle wheel in a forward direction; and an electric motor rotatable in a first direction and a second direction and configured to drive the transmission assembly; the transmission assembly configured to operate in a first operating mode when the motor is rotating in the first direction to provide at least one first wheel speed in the forward direction; the transmission assembly configured to operate in a second operating mode when the motor is rotating in the second direction to provide at least one second wheel speed in the forward direction; wherein the transmission assembly includes a speed-change mechanism and a clutch assembly for operating the transmission assembly in the first and second operating modes; wherein the speed-change mechanism includes a first planetary gear mechanism including a first sun gear, a first plurality of planet gears supported by a first planet carrier and a first ring gear; and wherein the first sun gear is coupled to the motor, the clutch assembly including first and second clutches, the first clutch disposed between the first planet carrier and a fixed axle of the vehicle wheel to prevent rotation of the first planet carrier when the motor rotates in the first direction.