Electric vehicle drive using combined differential and reduction gearing

A drive system, comprising:

• an output shaft rotatable about an axis;
• a differential planetary gear set including three members rotating about the axis:
• a first sun gear coaxial with and directly connected to the output shaft,
• a first ring gear,
• a first planet carrier supporting a plurality of first planet gears in meshing engagement with the first sun gear and the first ring gear;
• a reversal planetary gear set including three members rotating about the axis:
• a second sun gear,
• a second ring gear,
• a second planet carrier supporting a plurality of second planet gears in meshing engagement with the second sun gear and the second ring gear;
• a first axle shaft rotatably connected to one of the first ring gear and the first planet carrier;
• and
• a second axle shaft rotatably connected to one of the second ring gear and the second planet carrier;
• wherein the other of the first ring gear and the first planet carrier is coaxial with and directly rotatably connected with the second sun gear, and the other of the second ring gear and the second planet carrier is prevented from rotating.

An electric vehicle drive system, comprising:

• an electric motor having an output shaft;
• a stacked planetary gear set including a first sun gear connected directly to the output shaft of the electric motor, a plurality of first planet gears supported by a first planet carrier and in meshing engagement with the first sun gear and a first ring gear, the first ring gear having internal gear teeth engaging the plurality of first planet gears and having external teeth disposed directly radially outward from the internal gear teeth and engaging a plurality of second planet gears that are supported by a second planetary carrier and are in meshing engagement with internal teeth of a second ring gear;
• a first axle shaft rotatably connected to the first planet carrier;
• and
• a second axle shaft rotatably connected to the second ring gear.