Patent ID: 8499868

Claim:
A drive system for a drive axle of a motor vehicle, comprising an electric machine that at least partially encloses the drive axle, a shifting device for coupling the electric machine to the drive axle for driving the drive axle and for decoupling the electric machine from the drive axle, the shifting device having a shifting sleeve that is substantially coaxial with the drive axle and at least partially enclosing the drive axle, the shifting sleeve being axially displaceable on the drive axle, the drive system further having first and second first gear stages for implementing first and second transmission ratios between the electric machine and the drive axle, the shifting sleeve having a first shifting sleeve outer toothing operatively engaged with a sun gear inner toothing of a sun gear of the second gear stage and a second shifting sleeve outer toothing spaced axially from the first shifting sleeve outer toothing, the second shifting sleeve outer toothing being operatively disengaged from a planetary carrier inner toothing of a planetary carrier of the first gear stage and from a sun gear inner toothing of a sun gear of the first gear stage in a first operating state of the drive system.