Three-speed transmission for an electric drive system

A drive system, comprising:

• a first and a second planetary gearset having a sun gear, a carrier with planetary gears, and a ring gear, wherein the carrier of the first planetary gearset is directly coupled to the ring gear of the second planetary gearset, and wherein the ring gear of the first planetary gearset is coupled to the sun gear of the second planetary gearset, and wherein the first planetary gearset is downstream from the second planetary gearset;
• an input shaft coupled to the sun gear of the first planetary gearset, wherein the input shaft passes through the second planetary gearset to reach to first planetary gearset;
• a first brake operable to selectively couple the carrier of the second planetary gearset to ground;
• a second brake operable to selectively couple the ring gear of the first planetary gearset and the sun gear of the second planetary gearset to ground;
• and
• a clutch operable to selectively couple the input shaft to the first and second planetary gearsets to provide a 1:1 gear ratio between the input shaft and an output shaft;
• wherein the second brake and the first clutch are coupled to opposite sides of a synchronizer.