
Many countries have mandated electric propulsion as a requirement for all, or a high percentage of, new vehicle sales in the very near future. As a result, the transportation sector is experiencing a historically quick shift in product development, supply, and demand. Critical technologies high on this list include batteries and electric propulsion systems. However, to meet the high consumer demand for four-wheel-drive (4WD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) SUVs and light-duty trucks, new torque-management solutions are needed that are designed specifically for electric drivetrain systems.
Means Industries has a successful track record of bringing first-to-market technology into the vehicle space, including the selectable one-way clutch and advanced aluminum flowforming processes. Therefore, the company was primed to address this key issue when it developed its Dynamic Controllable Clutch, an Electro-Mechanical E-axle Disconnect system that is currently launching in production on a suite of 4WD electric vehicles (EV). This innovative disconnect system seamlessly engages and disengages front and rear electric drivetrains, enabling near instantaneous torque vectoring while also conserving energy and extending vehicle range by up to 10%.