The Eaton Heavy Duty 4-Speed EV Transmission is designed for Class 7 and 8 commercial vehicles, and is set to debut in 2022. The transmission is based on traditional lay shaft architecture typical of automated manual transmission (AMT) but is designed specifically for electric commercial vehicle applications. Unlike traditional commercial vehicle transmissions, Eaton’s 4-speed EV gearbox does not have a clutch, and shifts are synchronized using the traction motor, the company says. It also operates at higher speeds than its traditional internal combustion gearbox counterparts, and gears are optimized for typical electric motor performance and power curves for maximum efficiency.
