Stellantis’ electrification efforts haven’t been as intense as its cross-town Detroit rivals, but the automaker’s recent patent application could help it kick things into a slightly higher gear. Autoguide reported on a patent application from the automaker’s American arm, FCA, which covers a high-performance electric drive axle with three separate power units.
Three motors on one axle is a pretty rare setup, as most automakers opt for two. FCA’s goal with the technology is to allow a greater range of speed to each drive wheel, and the system functions similarly to a two-speed transmission. The outside motors take over for the center motor at a certain speed and continue accelerating.
Stellantis claims power outputs of up to around 470 horsepower for each motor, which would mean a combined output of 1,341 horsepower. This is just a patent application, so there’s no word on how or where the axle could be used, but it’s reasonable to guess that we’ll see a souped-up version of the Dodge Charger EV at some point.
The electric axle could also make its way to a future electrified Ram truck, and it’s likely possible to incorporate two of the units for a beastly all-wheel drive setup, though each motor’s power output would probably not reach the full 470 horsepower in that sort of configuration.
[Images: Stellantis]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
More by Chris Teague
Nice.
I’d rather have a Charger with the basic 5.7L HEMI than this Rube Goldberg POS electric crap.
