Compact electric drive units and vehicles

An electric drive unit comprising:

• an electric motor configured to provide an electric motor torque;
• an input differential;
• a pinion gear, wherein the input differential is configured to selectively transmit torque to the pinion gear;
• a rear transfer shaft assembly and a front transfer shaft assembly, wherein the pinion gear is configured to transfer torque to the rear transfer shaft assembly and to the front transfer shaft assembly;
• a final drive gear, wherein the rear transfer shaft assembly and the front transfer shaft assembly are both configured to transfer torque to the same final drive gear;
• and
• a locking device configured to selectively connect and disconnect the input differential from the pinion gear, wherein:
• the input differential is configured to transfer torque to a pinion shaft;
• the pinion shaft is formed with an axial bore;
• and
• the locking device comprises an axially actuatable shaft coaxial with the pinion shaft and located within the axial bore of the pinion shaft.

A vehicle comprising:

• an electric motor configured to provide an electric motor torque;
• a first pinion gear on a first path and a second pinion gear on a second path;
• a first rear transfer shaft assembly on the first path and a second rear transfer shaft assembly on the second path;
• a first front transfer shaft assembly on the first path and a second front transfer shaft assembly on the second path;
• a first final drive gear on the first path and a second final drive gear on the second path;
• and
• a first wheel on the first path and a second wheel on the second path;
• wherein the first pinion gear is configured to transfer torque to the first rear transfer shaft assembly and the first front transfer shaft assembly;
• wherein the first rear transfer shaft assembly and the first front transfer shaft assembly are both configured to transfer torque to the first final drive gear, and the first final drive gear is configured to drive the first wheel;
• wherein the second pinion gear is configured to transfer torque to the second rear transfer shaft assembly and the second front transfer shaft assembly;
• wherein the second rear transfer shaft assembly and the second front transfer shaft assembly are both configured to transfer torque to the second final drive gear, and the second final drive gear is configured to drive the second wheel;
• and
• wherein torque from each pinion gear is split between the respective rear and front transfer shaft assemblies such that each transfer shaft assembly carries twenty-five percent of total motor torque.