Comparative Study of EV Transmission Performance used in Various Vehicle Segments

2026-26-0584

To be published on 01/16/2026

Authors Abstract
Content
The transition to electric mobility has accelerated the evolution of drivetrain technologies, particularly in the design and performance of electric vehicle (EV) transmissions. Unlike traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, EVs utilize simpler yet diverse transmission systems cater to specific performance, efficiency, and application requirements. The growing adoption of electric vehicles across diverse transportation sectors has intensified the need for optimized electric transmission systems as per vehicle requirements. This research presents a comparative study of electric transmission performance across various vehicle segments, including Passenger Cars, Small commercial Vehicle, Commercial three-wheelers and All-terrain vehicles. The study evaluates different transmission configurations namely single-speed and multi-speed, based on key performance metrics such as Drag loss and Efficiency. Through a combination of literature review, and performance benchmarking, the analysis highlights how different segments prioritize specific transmission characteristics. The efficiency & drag losses were measured in the powertrain testbed where the test units were placed between two Transient Dynamometers at Output and one lower inertia prime mover at Input. The main aim of the test was to validate overall efficiency as a function of input speed and torque The study concludes that no single transmission architecture universally outperforms others across all segments; instead, optimal performance is highly dependent on use-case scenarios and design goals. These insights aim to support EV manufacturers and powertrain engineers in selecting or developing transmission systems that align with specific performance, cost, and efficiency targets. The paper also identifies areas for future research, including control strategy optimization and the impact of emerging materials and manufacturing technologies on transmission performance.
Meta TagsDetails
Citation
Jain, S., and P, E., "Comparative Study of EV Transmission Performance used in Various Vehicle Segments," SAE Technical Paper 2026-26-0584, 2026, .
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
To be published on Jan 16, 2026
Product Code
2026-26-0584
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English