Reverse drive system for a motorized vehicle

A motorized vehicle comprising:

• a multi-speed transmission operably coupled to a drive wheel of the motorized vehicle, the multi-speed transmission including a plurality of forward gears configured to be selectively engaged to drive the motorized vehicle at a selected gear ratio;
• an internal combustion engine selectively coupled to the multi-speed transmission and configured to provide torque to the multi-speed transmission to drive the motorized vehicle in a forward direction at the selected gear ratio;
• and
• a reverse drive system selectively coupled to the multi-speed transmission and configured to provide torque to the multi-speed to the multi-speed transmission to drive the motorized vehicle in a reverse direction, the reverse drive system including:
• an electric motor, and
• a reverse drive gear train configured to be selectively coupled to the multi- speed transmission to transfer torque from the electric motor to the drive wheel of the motorized vehicle, the reverse drive gear train including a drive gear coupled to the electric motor, a driven gear, and an idler gear disposed between the drive gear and the driven gear, the idler gear configured to be permanently meshed with the drive gear and the driven gear,
• wherein the drive gear is a compound gear having a drive gear input portion and a drive gear output portion, and wherein the drive gear input portion is relatively larger than the drive gear output portion,
• wherein the multi-speed transmission includes a neutral position in which the internal combustion engine is decoupled from the multi-speed transmission and freely rotatable relative to the multi-speed transmission, and
• wherein the reverse drive gear train is configured to be operably coupled to the multi- speed transmission when the multi-speed transmission is in the neutral position, such that the reverse drive system is operable to drive the motorized vehicle in a reverse direction without interference from the internal combustion engine, and
• wherein the multi-speed transmission includes a transmission housing in which the plurality of forward gears are disposed, and wherein the reverse drive system is disposed outside of the transmission housing.