Stellantis’s new patent for a three-speed gearbox could bring off-road capability to its future electric vehicles. The patent describes how the gearbox could offer low-range, high-range, and direct-drive gearsets, the kinds of configurations you’d expect to find in a Jeep or a Ram.
In the filing, Stellantis says that the low-range gear would be optimal for trail driving, stump removal, or vehicle recovery. It says the high-range gear would be best for “road and desert driving.” Most EVs use a single-speed gearbox, but Stellantis points out these are often “unable to provide sustained high torque for trail and desert driving or various other speeds.”
All that sounds very promising, with the new gearbox potentially allowing future electric vehicles to operate more efficiently on a variety of surfaces, like snow or sand. Stellantis states that the gearbox can power the front axle, rear axle, or both, providing four or all-wheel drive capability.
The most obvious use for such a gearbox is in future Jeep or Ram products. While the march toward electrification has slowed since Stellantis applied for the patent in October 2023, the automaker still plans to introduce a variety of battery-electric vehicles that could benefit from this new technology.
The Jeep Recon will be the brand’s first all-electric off-roader. It’s similar in size to the Wrangler Unlimited, featuring a fully independent suspension. It’ll also have electronic locking differentials, which the new gearbox is capable of accommodating.
While most of today's EVs feature direct-drive units, you will find two-speed gearboxes in the Porsche Taycan and Audi E-Tron GT. Stellantis has now upped the ante with a three-speed unit, which has us wondering when we'll see four-, five, and six-speed EV gearboxes.
