Engineering news
GKN Driveline’s electric axle (eAxle) technology has reached production of more than 300,000 units outlining the rising global demand for vehicles with hybrid electric all-wheel drive technology.
The eAxle range, which has been produced at GKN’s eDrive centres of excellence in Italy and Japan, is produced for a range of vehicle segments, from premium SUVs to high-end sports cars, requiring high-precision manufacturing.
Phil Swash, GKN Driveline chief executive, said: “Plug-in hybrids with eAWD are now one of the industry’s fastest growing market segments and we have seen a significant acceleration in production volumes at our global sites in the past two years in response. We believe that approximately 40% of new vehicles will have some element of electrification within the next 10 years and we are developing the next generation of technologies to ensure we maintain our leading position, as well as adding production capacity across the globe.”
Vehicles that feature GKN eDrive technology include the Volvo XC90 and S90, Mitsubishi Outlander, BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, BMW i8 and Porsche 918 Spyder. Automotive manufacturers typically use GKN eAxles on the rear axle of front wheel drive platforms to offer an efficient, dynamic and affordable hybrid eAWD model.
Peter Moelgg, GKN Automotive president of engineering, said: “GKN’s eAxle technology has passed a key production milestone at a time when demand for both all-wheel drive and plug-in hybrids is rising strongly.
“As the industry’s driveline efficiency expert, we focused on preparing eAxles for mass production from the outset because the technology offers the most real-world efficiency and the best value for consumers in terms of performance and system cost.”
In March 2016, GKN announced the development of its latest generation of eAxle, which transfers technology developed for hybrid super sports cars into mass-market vehicle platforms.