Electric vehicle drive unit

An electric vehicle drive unit comprising:

• a first traveling motor that includes a first rotor;
• a second traveling motor that includes a second rotor;
• and
• a first planetary gear mechanism that includes a first rotation element, a second rotation element, and a third rotation element, wherein
• the first rotation element is rotatably coupled to the first rotor,
• the second rotation element is rotatably coupled to the second rotor via a connection portion,
• the third rotation element is coupled to an output shaft coupled to a drive wheel side,
• rotary axes in the first planetary gear mechanism, the first traveling motor and the second traveling motor are coaxially arranged,
• the electric vehicle drive unit further comprises a clutch that disconnectably connects any two rotation elements among the first rotation element, the second rotation element and the third rotation element to switch the two rotation elements to a directly coupled state at the time of connection, and
• the second traveling motor is a high torque low speed motor having characteristics of high torque and a low maximum rotation speed compared to the first traveling motor.

An electric vehicle drive unit comprising:

• a first traveling motor that includes a first rotor;
• a second traveling motor that includes a second rotor;
• and
• a first planetary gear mechanism that includes a first rotation element, a second rotation element, and a third rotation element, wherein
• the first rotation element is rotatably coupled to the first rotor,
• the second rotation element is rotatably coupled to the second rotor via a connection portion,
• the third rotation element is coupled to an output shaft coupled to a drive wheel side,
• rotary axes in the first planetary gear mechanism, the first traveling motor and the second traveling motor are coaxially arranged,
• the electric vehicle drive unit further comprises a clutch that disconnectably connects any two rotation elements among the first rotation element, the second rotation element and the third rotation element to switch the two rotation elements to a directly coupled state at the time of connection,
• the first planetary gear mechanism is a single pinion type,
• the first rotation element is a first sun gear,
• the second rotation element is a first ring gear,
• the third rotation element is a first carrier, and
• the clutch connects the first sun gear and the first carrier.