Drive unit for an electric vehicle and drive axle with a drive unit

A drive unit for an electric vehicle, the drive unit comprising an electric machine and a three-speed shift transmission with a first shift element, a second shift element, a third shift element, and first and second planetary sets which are coupled to each other;

• the first planetary set has a first sun shaft, a first ring gear shaft and a first carrier shaft, and the second planetary set has a second sun shaft, a second ring gear shaft, and a second carrier shaft;
• the first carrier shaft is fixedly connected to the second ring gear shaft, the first sun shaft is drivable by the electric machine, the first ring gear shaft is positionally fixed, output takes place via the second carrier shaft;
• the first shift element is actuatable to engage a first gear, the second shift element is actuatable to engage a second gear, and the third shift element is actuatable to engage a third gear;
• and
• the second sun shaft is coupleable, via the first shift element, to a housing.