Differential for a lightweight vehicle

A differential for a vehicle having a suspension, the differential comprising:

• a first axle shaft;
• a second axle shaft;
• the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft being disposed along a first axis of rotation;
• a first electric motor;
• a second electric motor;
• the first and the second electric motors being disposed along a second axis of rotation spaced from the first axis and located in a rear of the first and second axle shafts with the first and second electric motors being generally parallel with regard to the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft;
• and
• a housing with the first and second axle shaft disposed in a transverse manner through the housing, the first and second electric motors being disposed in a transverse manner through the housing, the housing configured to support the first and the second electric motors, the first and second electric motors being supported underneath the vehicle as sprung weight.

A method of transmitting power to at least a first and second wheel and allowing the first and second wheels to rotate at different speeds relative to one another, the method comprising:

• providing a first axle shaft connected to the first wheel;
• providing a second axle shaft connected to the second wheel with the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft being disposed along a first axis of rotation;
• supporting the first and second axle shaft in a transverse manner along the first axis of rotation;
• providing at least one electric motor disposed along a second axis of rotation spaced from the first axis of rotation;
• and
• supporting the first electric motor transversely and spaced from the first and the second axle shaft so that the electric motor is supported as sprung weight relative to the suspension.

A transmission for a single wheel of a vehicle having a suspension, the transmission comprising:

• a first axle shaft;
• a second axle shaft;
• the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft being disposed along a first axis of rotation;
• a first electric motor being disposed along a second axis of rotation spaced from the first axis, and connected to the first axle shaft by a geared arrangement;
• a housing supporting the first and second axle shaft in a transverse manner through the housing;
• the housing supporting the first electric motor in a transverse manner through the housing with the housing being configured to support the first electric motor as sprung weight relative to the suspension;
• a battery operatively connected to the first electric motor and a controller, the controller receiving at least one input signal relating to a parameter of the vehicle;
• and
• the controller receiving the at least one input signal, and outputting a control signal in response thereto to control an output of the first electric motor, the first electric motor in response to the control signal rotating the geared arrangement to rotate at least one of the first axle shaft or the second axle shaft at a predetermined rate of rotation depending on the input signal.

A differential for transportation device comprising;

• a first axle shaft;
• a second axle shaft;
• a first electric motor;
• a second electric motor;
• a housing having the first and second electric motors aligned and spaced from the aligned first and second axle shafts;
• and
• a controller configured to control the first and second electric motor to electronically mimic a differential by selectively providing power supplied to each of the first and second electric motors.