Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric drive motor, transmission, and centrifugal clutch. The centrifugal clutch is drivingly coupled in a torque transmission path between the electric drive motor and the transmission. The centrifugal clutch includes a first friction plate, second friction plate, biasing member, and counterweight. The first friction plate is rotatable about an axis. The second friction plate is rotatable about the axis and axially movable relative to the first friction plate. The second friction plate is configured to frictionally engage the first friction plate to transmit torque therebetween. The biasing member biases the second friction plate toward the first friction plate. The counterweight assembly is coupled to the second friction plate and configured to apply a counterweight force on the second friction plate away from the first friction plate in response to a rotational speed of the second friction plate exceeding a predetermined rotational speed.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an electric drive motor, transmission, and centrifugal clutch. The centrifugal clutch is drivingly coupled in a torque transmission path between the electric drive motor and the transmission. The centrifugal clutch includes a first friction plate, second friction plate, biasing member, and counterweight. The first friction plate is rotatable about an axis. The second friction plate is rotatable about the axis and axially movable relative to the first friction plate. The second friction plate is configured to frictionally engage the first friction plate to transmit torque therebetween. The biasing member biases the second friction plate toward the first friction plate. The counterweight assembly is coupled to the second friction plate and configured to apply a counterweight force on the second friction plate away from the first friction plate in response to a rotational speed of the second friction plate exceeding a predetermined rotational speed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second electric machines constrained to rotate in unison and configured to power a common axle. A controller is programmed to, in response to activation of the vehicle, select one of the first and second speed sensors as a representative speed sensor, and, in response to the electric machines being in speed control, command speeds to the first and second electric machines based on a difference between a target speed of the electric machines and a measured speed of the representative speed sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second electric machines constrained to rotate in unison and configured to power a common axle. A controller is programmed to, in response to activation of the vehicle, select one of the first and second speed sensors as a representative speed sensor, and, in reponse to the electric machines being in speed control, command speeds to the first and second electric machines based on a difference between a target speed of the electric machines and a measured speed of the representative speed sensor.