At the 2017 Shanghai autoshow, GKN Driveline has unveiled its latest eDrive products, including an all-new mobility concept. With China now the world’s fastest-growing market for electric drivelines, GKN recognised Auto Shanghai as the ideal opportunity to showcase its latest technologies.
In addition to its Multimode eTransmission, as found on the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, its single-speed eAxle, which appears on BMW’s 225xe Active Tourer as well as its X1 xDrive25Le for the Chinese market and its compact coaxial eAxle¸ as featured on the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine, GKN is debuting its vision of the future of electrified drivelines.
As automakers increasingly seek to offer plug-in hybrid technology on their small car platforms – where packaging space is at a premium – GKN expects to see a surge in demand for eDrive systems that are cheaper and simpler to package and assemble.
GKN Driveline also presented its vision on how it will meet this demand, by unveiling an advanced technology concept for a ‘revolutionary’ eDrive system. The design of the system will enable delivery to OEMs at lower unit costs than today’s electric drivelines, paving the way for more affordable eDrive variants of mainstream vehicles.
All of GKN Driveline’s world-class vehicle systems benefits from its global leadership in the design and production of sintered components. A raft of automotive products developed by GKN’s Power Metallurgy division will also be on show in Shanghai, including high-performance gears, soft magnetic composites, and components produced using the company’s revolutionary additive manufacturing processes.