GKN Showcases Its New Electric Torque Vectoring Tech

Electric vehicles will soon become more dynamic and efficient, thanks to GKN’s new electric torque vectoring technology called ‘eTwinster’, which is being showcased at the company’s Wintertest proving ground in Arjeplog, Northern Sweden.

A plug-in hybrid module, the ‘eTwinster’ enables vehicle platforms to easily offer torque vectoring and electric all-wheel drive. The driveline melds the twin-clutch torque vectoring technology featured in the Range Rover Evoque and Ford Focus RS as well as the eAxle technologies proven in the Porsche 918 Spyder, BMW i8 plug-in hybrids and Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine.

GKN’s vehicle dynamics experts are test-driving the technology in a premium SUV prototype. In the vehicle, a 60kW, 240Nm electric motor drives an electric axle with a transmission ratio of 1:10. The dual-clutch Twinster system also vectors the resulting 2,400Nm of torque between the rear wheels, considerably enhancing handling and dynamic response.

In a statement, GKN Automotive Technology president, Peter Moelgg said that GKN is the industry leader in eAxle technology with all their core torque vectoring and eAxle technologies now in production and proven expertise in incorporating full driveline systems. He noted that they have been building the momentum towards electric torque vectoring for some time.

“We believe our prototype torque-vectoring eAxle system represents the next step forward for the industry: a production-ready way to create higher performance hybrids that are more rewarding to drive.”

GKN predicts that by 2025, 40 to 50 percent of vehicles will have some level of electrification, with a greater proportion hybrids’ power delivered from the electric motor.

The eTwinster, which is part of an array of new eDrive technologies that GKN is developing to shift the power balance from engines to batteries in the next decade, is anticipated to be programmed and incorporated into a vehicle platform for production within the next three years. Existing mass-production vehicle platforms are only capable of drawing nearly 30 percent of their energy from a battery. GKN anticipates small, powerful, torque-vectoring electric axles could deliver 60 to 70 percent of the power in upcoming vehicles.

Moelgg added that GKN is focused on the development of technologies that can attain this critical tipping point for electric drives in mass production. He stressed that more powerful and dynamic electric drives from the company would help put batteries in the driving seat and create new electric driving experiences for customers.

“The success of our eAxle systems in cars for Porsche, BMW and Volvo demonstrated how the right kind of hybridization creates new value propositions for the driver. Torque vectoring is the next step and we are excited to be demonstrating this technology during Wintertest.”