Power unit for a front drive vehicle

A vehicle, comprising:

• a front drive axle comprising a first front wheel and a second front wheel;
• a differential arranged on the front drive axle;
• a vehicle frame;
• a front independent suspension assembly coupling the first front wheel and the second front wheel to the vehicle frame;
• an internal combustion engine positioned longitudinally to the vehicle, proximally to the front drive axle, and between the front independent suspension assembly;
• a traction battery;
• and,
• a power unit, the power unit configured to generate electric power via output of the internal combustion engine, the power unit also configured to supply propulsive effort to the first front wheel and the second front wheel via output of the traction battery,
• wherein the power unit comprises:
• a generator positioned longitudinally to the vehicle and distally to the front drive axle and coupled to the internal combustion engine, where a coupling between the internal combustion engine and the generator defines a generator axis;
• an electric motor positioned transversely to the vehicle and between the internal combustion engine and a distal end of the generator, the electric motor comprising a rotor shaft with a rotor shaft axis that is offset from and perpendicular to the generator axis;
• and
• a transmission arm assembly configured to transfer torque between the electric motor and the differential.

A method for a vehicle, comprising:

• mounting a power unit to an internal combustion engine and coupling the power unit to a front drive axle, the internal combustion engine positioned longitudinally to the vehicle, proximally to the front drive axle, and between a front independent suspension assembly,
• wherein the power unit comprises a generator positioned longitudinally to the vehicle and distally to the front drive axle and coupled to the internal combustion engine, where a coupling between the internal combustion engine and the generator defines a generator axis;
• an electric motor positioned transversely to the vehicle and between the internal combustion engine and a distal end of the generator, where a rotor shaft axis is offset from and perpendicular to the generator axis;
• and
• a transmission arm assembly configured to transfer torque between the electric motor and the front drive axle.