Xtrac has added a new product to its Integrated Lightweight Electric Vehicle (ILEV) line of transmission systems. The new P1166 is featured in Williams Advanced Engineering’s FW-EVX lightweight EV platform concept, which Williams unveiled at the recent Low Carbon Vehicle Show in Millbrook, UK.

The P1166 transmission, fully integrated with a YASA P400 motor-generator, powers the front axle of Williams’s concept, and is complemented at the rear by Xtrac’s P1227 transmission with torque vectoring capability, which made its debut in 2016.

Both transmissions deliver high power density: the P1166 has a mass of between 17 and 20 kg, and the P1227 between 28 and 45 kg, depending on configuration. Each transmission is rated for a maximum speed of more than 10,000 rpm and peak torque of 1,000 N·m (740 lb-ft). In combination with three YASA P400 series motors, the overall rating of the Williams powertrain is 480 kW (640 bhp).

Whereas the P1166 features a bevel gear set and differential, the P1227 features a transverse motor installation with helical gears that can accommodate single or dual motor inputs, and can be configured as a differential or with torque vectoring capability.

Xtrac says the continual development of its driveline systems for supercars will provide valuable insights into how highly efficient transmissions can be designed for mass-market EVs.

“Important lessons can be learnt when designing, testing and validating technology for extreme applications,” says James Setter, head of Xtrac’s Automotive and Engineering business unit. “There is significant intellectual property to be gleaned from these advanced technology development programs, not least the pursuit of silent drivetrains. When you remove the internal combustion engine, it reveals the slightest transmission noise, vibration and harshness. Road vehicles demand a high level of NVH refinement that is simply not required in motorsport, so we tailor the design of our high-end transmissions for these vehicles accordingly.”

Source: Xtrac