DeepDrive, a Munich-based tech company backed by BMW and Continental, has unveiled a new central drive unit that it plans to deploy in 2027.

DeepDrive has developed a dual-rotor, radial flux machine that has an inner and outer rotor with two air gaps to maximize material usage and minimize iron losses, along with a new distributed winding with a slot-filling factor above 80%. The optimized design uses 50% less magnetic material and 80% less iron than its competitors, according to the company. The drive is available in two variants that combine the motor with a two-stage spur gear and an integrated silicon carbide (SiC) inverter with coaxial output shaft that minimizes space consumption at a low cost.

• The DeepDrive CSD 450 offers engine torque of 430 Nm and output power of 230 kW, making it suitable for EVs (front- or rear-wheel drive up to the C segment) as well as premium all-wheel drive concepts. Variable gear ratios provide output torques of between 2,700 and 3,800 Nm.
• The DeepDrive CSD 700 is the main drive for premium D-segment class and all-wheel drive vehicles, delivering up to 5,400 Nm output torque and output power of 350 kW.

Gearbox ratio for the CSD 450 can be varied in a range from 6.4:1 to 9:1. The range for the CSD 700 is from 6:1 to 8:1.

The drive unit can be seamlessly integrated into the wheels or installed as a traditional central drive, the company said.

Source: DeepDrive