Axle assembly for a vehicle

An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

• a banjo axle housing having a central portion that defines a receiving space, a first beam that extends from the central portion in a first axial direction and that defines a first beam hollow in communication with the receiving space, and a second beam that extends from the central portion opposite the first beam in a second axial direction and that defines a second beam hollow in communication with the receiving space;
• an electric drive unit housed within the banjo axle housing, the electric drive unit comprising:
• a motor that drives rotation of a rotor shaft;
• a housing that houses the motor and that is disposed within the receiving space defined by the central portion of the banjo axle housing, the housing having a first portion and a second portion that is fastened to and positioned axially adjacent to the first portion of the housing, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion is fastened to the central portion of the banjo axle housing;
• a first output shaft;
• and
• a second output shaft, wherein the first output shaft and the second output shaft are operably coupled to the rotor shaft via a gearset;
• a first half shaft that extends within the first beam hollow and that is engaged with the first output shaft;
• and
• a second half shaft that extends within the second beam hollow, and that is engaged with the second output shaft, wherein the rotor shaft, the first half shaft, and the second half shaft are coaxially aligned.

An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

• a banjo axle housing having a central portion that defines a receiving space, a first beam that extends from the central portion in a first axial direction and that defines a first beam hollow in communication with the receiving space, and a second beam that extends from the central portion opposite the first beam in a second axial direction and that defines a second beam hollow in communication with the receiving space;
• an electric drive unit housed within the banjo axle housing and having a motor disposed within the receiving space that drives rotation of a rotor shaft, wherein the electric drive unit further comprises:
• a first output shaft;
• and
• a second output shaft, wherein the first output shaft and the second output shaft are operably coupled to the rotor shaft via a first gearset;
• a first half shaft that extends within the first beam hollow and that is engaged with the first output shaft;
• and
• a second half shaft that extends within the second beam hollow, and that is engaged with the second output shaft, wherein the rotor shaft, the first half shaft, and the second half shaft are coaxially aligned.