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The rapid evolution of battery electric vehicle (BEV) development has highlighted the need to develop BEVs that meet customer demands for both high-performance and space-efficiency. This paper explores the optimization opportunities available within the landscape of BEV powertrains, focusing on the power-dense potential of single-axis powertrain systems. The need to adhere to power density requirements to accommodate performance aspirations while simultaneously yielding more cabin or storage space to the customer creates a challenging problem for designers. With this pursuit, these competing interests must strike a harmonious balance to create the best experience for the customer. The subject of this study is an investigation into a leading competitor's powertrain that explores the potential optimization opportunities available within its already compact single-axis electric transmission.

Automotive automatic transmissions have multiple axis configurations in which planetary gears transmit torque to a counter gear on another axis. Although general characteristics of a planetary gear (component level) have been studied, no specific investigations are available in literature explaining interactions between planetary and torque-transmitting gears (Full Unit or Sub-System). In this paper, a system FEA model (Using TM3D) of a Ravigneaux and a counter gear pair is introduced, exploring influences of system deflection in pinion load sharing to changes in gear root stress pattern. Additionally, by a series of strain gauge tests under a controlled test jig, reliability of the FEA model is verified. Finally, benefits of system-level FEA are explained by macro/micro-geometry optimization in the early design stage.