BluE Nexus eAxle: To be installed in Toyota bZ4X!
-Released at Toyota Technical Workshop 2023-
Toyota’s next-generation eAxle:
What’s so amazing? In fact, “If you make it smaller, the cruising range will increase.”
Report from Motor-Fan articles
Toyota’s technology strategy:
Alongside the next-generation battery, the eAxle (a motor, inter-bar, and transaxle integrated) will also evolve.
Toyota says that if the eAxle is made smaller, the cruising range will increase.
Designed to expand the space by downsizing the eAxle and reduce air resistance.
BluE Nexus:
A company jointly established by Aisin (45%), Denso (45%), and Toyota (10%).
Aisin, which has strengths in transaxles, and Denso, which has strengths in inverters and motors, will participate.
BluE Nexus eAxle:
BluE Nexus eAxle has been adopted for Toyota’s BEV, bZ4X.
150kW specification (for front) and 80kW specification (for front/rear).
At the workshop, an 80kW specification mounted on the rear of the bZ4X was on display.
Smaller eAxle:
BluE Nexus, Aisin, Denso, and Toyota’s in-house technology are being fully utilized for development.
The trick to realizing compactness:
Achieved high rotation of the motor. The rotor diameter was reduced by using it at high rotation.
A higher speed motor requires a larger reduction ratio. In general terms, gears tend to get bigger.
Adopt planetary gear:
The small eAxle uses planetary gears to slow it down.
The number of shafts has been reduced by adopting planetary gears. This also contributes to compactness. In addition, the volume of the inverter has been greatly reduced.