EV Dictionary: Electric Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

All-wheel drive can send propulsion torque to both the front and rear axles.

Differential

A differential lets driven wheels rotate at different speeds while transmitting torque.

E-Axle

An e-axle combines an electric motor and reduction drive at one axle; included components vary.

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)

Front-wheel drive sends propulsion torque to the front axle.

Integrated Electric Drive Unit (EDU)

An integrated electric drive unit packages several EV propulsion functions into one assembly.

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)

Rear-wheel drive sends propulsion torque to the rear axle.

Reduction Gear

A reduction gear trades high motor speed for lower wheel speed and greater torque.

Secondary-Axle Disconnect Clutch

A disconnect clutch separates a secondary electric axle from the wheels to reduce drag when it is idle.

Single-, Dual-, Triple-, and Quad-Motor Drivetrains

Motor-count labels describe how many traction motors an EV uses, not how they connect to the wheels.