Is Electric Four-Wheel Drive Full-Time or On-Demand Four-Wheel Drive?

[McSilas]

Electric four-wheel drive is on-demand four-wheel drive. Electric four-wheel drive allows for multiple power sources, which can be either a traditional engine or an electric motor, whereas full-time four-wheel drive has only one power source, namely the engine. In terms of reaction speed, electric four-wheel drive responds faster. Below is a detailed introduction to electric four-wheel drive: Principle of Electric Four-Wheel Drive: In electric four-wheel drive, the front axle has an engine and a drive motor as power sources, while the rear axle is driven by its own independent drive motor with a power output of up to 180 kilowatts. Therefore, there is no need for complex physical structures to transmit power between the front and rear axles. In contrast, full-time four-wheel drive in fuel-powered vehicles has only one power source—an engine. To achieve four-wheel drive, the driving force must be distributed. If the engine is front-mounted, the power must be transmitted to the rear axle via a driveshaft and then distributed to the rear wheels. Power Source of Electric Four-Wheel Drive: Electric four-wheel drive can rely on electric motors to generate power, so it does not require excessive components to achieve four-wheel drive. Traditional four-wheel drive systems, on the other hand, require more components and are relatively more complex. Additionally, it is important to note that for traditional four-wheel drive systems, performance is largely determined by hardware. For electric four-wheel drive technology, performance is more often determined by software.