Deadbeam based rear suspension system for BEV driven axle

A five-link vehicle suspension system comprising:

• a deadbeam extended between a first wheel at a first end of the deadbeam and a second wheel at a second end of the deadbeam;
• an electric motor disposed proximate to the deadbeam;
• a lateral link operably coupling the deadbeam to a chassis of the vehicle, the lateral link comprising a first link of the system;
• a first half shaft operably coupled to the first wheel and the electric motor;
• a second half shaft operably coupled to the second wheel and the electric motor;
• a first suspension assembly operably coupling the first wheel to the chassis, the first suspension assembly including a first upper link comprising a second link of the system and a first lower link comprising a third link of the system, the second link passing over the first half shaft and the third link passing under the first half shaft extending between the chassis and a portion of the deadbeam proximate the first wheel;
• and
• a second suspension assembly operably coupling the second wheel to the chassis, the second suspension assembly including a second upper link comprising a fourth link of the system and a second lower link comprising a fifth link of the system, the fourth link passing over the second half shaft and the fifth link passing under the second half shaft extending between the chassis and a portion of the deadbeam proximate the second wheel,
• wherein the deadbeam is disposed entirely rearward of the electric motor,
• wherein the second, third, fourth and fifth links of the system extend from a position forward of the first and second half shafts, past the first and second half shafts, to a position rearward of the first and second half shafts where the second, third, fourth and fifth links of the system operably couple to the deadbeam rearward of the first and second half shafts, and
• wherein the deadbeam extends linearly at least from the first half shaft to the second half shaft.