The new development is aimed at affordable front-wheel-drive cars. The design combines a standard robotic gearbox with a single clutch and an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. For testing, the transmission was installed on a Renault Duster crossover.
The single-disc "robot" is essentially a manual gearbox where automation controls the clutch and gear shifting. Manufacturers value such units for their simplicity and low cost. However, they have significant drawbacks: pauses and jerks during gear changes due to interruption of torque delivery, as well as a short clutch life.
ZF engineers claim that their system has eliminated the weaknesses of the robotic gearbox. The electric motor on the rear axle works in conjunction with the clutch drive and engages at the moment it disengages. This made it possible to eliminate jerks during gear shifts.
The electric drive of the rear wheels is also activated in other cases: during hard acceleration when an extra push is needed, or when the front wheels lose traction on slippery surfaces.
The demonstration vehicle is built as a plug-in hybrid. It implements all standard hybrid modes: electric driving with the internal combustion engine off, coasting, automatic engine stop, and energy recovery during deceleration.
The timing of the eAMT hybrid transmission appearing in production models has not yet been announced. Most likely, it will first be offered for the Indian market, where the right-hand-drive Renault Duster is produced, which is exactly what is equipped with the robotic gearbox.
