Xtrac Presents New E-axle Solution Designed for FIA World Rallycross

Xtrac, a British engineering company specialized in advanced transmission solutions for racing applications, has recently presented its latest P1316 e-axle intended for the first electric-powered cars to participate in the 2021 to 2024 FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Xtrac's P1316 e-axle, designed for a rally cross series organized by the FIA, underlines the company’s achievements in development of advanced gear shifting solutions for racing applications. Xtrac plans to supply its new product to the Austrian company Kreisel, which currently operates as a supply source for the gradual integration of battery-driven propulsion solutions into this big race competition.

Xtrac's P1316 e-axle

Xtrac’s new product is a nice addition to the company’s achievements in gear shifting solutions for Formula E. The new e-axle has a total ratio of 7.90:1 and is perfect for pairing with powerful motors. The process of lubrication is carried out via a special rotary pump guaranteeing pressure supply to all key areas. An oil receiver is supposed to reduce windage losses and improve total gearbox performance.

Testing of P1316 e-axle

Thanks to the use of advanced materials for weight-optimized parts, the P1316 e-axle is notable for its class-leading weight (21kg). Despite the fact that this product was initially designed for battery-driven rally cross cars, Xtrac claims that this technology can be also applied in other racing series. The vast experience in the transmission technologies allowed Xtrac to become a major manufacturer and key vendor within Europe’s highly integrated motorsport industry supply chain.

It is worth mentioning that the company has supplied more than 1,000 of IVA systems for racing transmissions, which is an impressive number with regard to the motorsport industry’s small-scale manufacturing of vehicles. To highlight this remarkable achievement, the company plans to produce a commemorative gold anodised unit. Suitable for use on most Xtrac racing transmissions, IVA systems (marked as P1254) have gained popularity among racing teams, due to their durability, compactness and improved performance capacity.

P1254 (IVA) gear changing unit

Continuing to strengthen its technical and duty-cycle development capabilities, Xtrac has recently put into operational use 2 innovative test benches. These systems allow Xtrac engineers to test the innovative twin motor ILEV transmissions. Use of a battery emulator in the future will enable testing of complete integrated e-drive unit transmissions with the car’s motors.

Recently, the company has also purchased a new gear-grinding machine (KAPP KX 500 FLEX), reinforcing its gear production capacity. This gear grinder ensures not only enhanced precision and quality, but also reduces production lead times and gives a competitive edge on the market.