Electric drive axle with a gearbox and gearbox operating method

A method for operation of an electric drive axle, comprising:

• operating a clutch in a gearbox to transition the gearbox between a higher gear ratio mode and a lower gear ratio mode;
• wherein the electric drive axle comprises:
• an electric machine rotationally coupled to the gearbox, the gearbox comprising:
• the clutch selectively coupled to a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set;
• and
• wherein the clutch is configured to:
• in a lower gear ratio position, rotationally couple a carrier in the first planetary gear set to a carrier in the second planetary gear set;
• and
• in a higher gear ratio position, rotationally couple the carrier in the first planetary gear set to a sun gear in the second planetary gear set;
• and
• wherein the clutch is the only clutch in the gearbox.

An electric drive axle, comprising:

• an electric motor rotationally coupled to a gearbox, the gearbox comprising:
• a first planetary gear set arranged coaxial to a second planetary gear set;
• and
• a clutch configured to:
• in a first position corresponding to a higher gear ratio mode, rotationally couple an input gear to a sun gear in the first planetary gear set and rotationally decouple the input gear from a sun gear in the second planetary gear set;
• and
• in second position corresponding to a lower gear ratio mode, rotationally couple the input gear to the sun gear in the second planetary gear set and rotationally decouple the sun gear in the first planetary gear set from the input gear.