Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)
Rear-wheel drive (RWD) means propulsion torque is delivered to the vehicle’s rear axle rather than its front axle.
What it means in an EV
In a single-motor EV, a rear drive unit commonly sends torque through reduction gearing and a differential to both rear wheels, while the front wheels provide steering. Propulsion and regenerative-braking capability remain limited by tyre grip, motor and inverter capacity, battery power, and brake blending.
RWD does not identify the motor technology or guarantee a particular handling balance. It also describes which axle can propel the vehicle, not every operating detail of the drive unit. A vehicle that can additionally drive its front axle is all-wheel drive even if the rear axle is the primary or most frequently used drive.
For the broader motor and drive-unit context, see Electric Motors and Drive Units.