Drive system for an electric vehicle

An electrically driven axle assembly, e-axle, for a vehicle, comprising:

• a main housing defining an inner space;
• a differential plate configured for mounting within said inner space fixedly to said main housing, said differential plate defining a through opening;
• a differential assembly, said differential assembly being disposed adjacent to said differential plate and being rotatably supported over said differential plate;
• a first drive shaft having a first inboard end connected to said differential assembly and a first outboard end configured to receive a first wheel of said vehicle;
• a second drive shaft having a second inboard end connected to said differential assembly and a second outboard end configured to receive a second wheel of said vehicle;
• at least one electric machine configured to drive said differential assembly;
• and
• a mechanical transmission housed within said inner space and operatively connected between said at least one electric machine and said differential assembly;
• wherein the main housing includes a housing case and a cover plate realized as a separate element and fixedly mounted to said housing case;
• wherein said differential plate defines a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, said differential plate defining a plurality of abutments configured to cooperate by contact with said cover plate and to allow the mounting of said differential plate to said cover plate.