Powertrain

How it is used

Common in engineering, product planning and warranty documents. Car makers have powertrain departments and powertrain engineers; you also hear electrified powertrain, hybrid powertrain and powertrain warranty.

Example sentences

1. The powertrain team is testing the new hybrid system on the dyno this week.

2. The powertrain warranty covers the engine and gearbox for five years.

Common collocations

• powertrain engineer
• electrified powertrain
• powertrain warranty
• powertrain calibration

Related terms

• engineThe machine that burns fuel, usually petrol or diesel, to produce the power that moves a vehicle. It turns the energy of burning fuel into rotation of the crankshaft.
• transmissionThe unit that changes the gear ratio between the engine and the wheels so the car can pull away, accelerate and cruise efficiently. It can be manual or automatic.
• differentialA gear set on a driven axle that lets the left and right wheels turn at different speeds when the car goes around a corner, while still sending power to both.
• driveshaftA rotating shaft that carries torque from the gearbox towards the wheels. In rear-drive cars it is the long shaft to the rear axle; in front-drive cars short driveshafts run to each front wheel.
• traction motorThe electric motor that drives the wheels of an electric or hybrid vehicle. Most modern cars use permanent magnet synchronous motors, though induction motors are also used.

More terms: Transmission and Drivetrain

• clutch
• gear ratio
• all-wheel drive
• axle