As much as I am excited about the forthcoming 2023 Corvette Z06 and its unique engine, there’s another Corvette on the horizon that may also be a game changer and its unique 8-speed DCT transmission may just have been revealed in this patent application by Tremec.
Tremec applied for the patent in 2019 and it was officially published by the USPTO on January 13, 2022. The patent document details an 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with an integrated motor-generator designed for “high-performance sports cars.” As Tremec’s only customer of 8-Speed DCTs is Chevrolet, it sure looks like this advanced DCT is being created for the rumored C8 Corvette E-Ray.
Those of us that have been championing the E-Ray may have held somewhat simplistic views when it comes to detailing exactly how Corvette engineers will be creating the first hybrid model. “It’s already got the tried and tested LT2, just slap an Ultium drive motor on the front axle, throw some batteries in the center tunnel, and set the regen braking to 100%” is pretty much my goto elevator pitch when it comes to describing the E-Ray, but this patent filing details a whole lot more fun on the horizon for those willing to take the hybrid plunge.
This find comes courtesy of The/Drive who discovered the details and posted the pics. For those who want the full experience, you can download the patent application (pdf) here, although we recommend staying at a Holiday Inn Express prior to reading.
Drawings of the E-Ray’s DCT show a motor-generator integrated into the transmission that could be used to power the wheels. This would be huge in terms of understanding if the ultium drive motor is there to assist the internal combustion engine only, or, as the patent appears to show, the DCT will be able to power the wheels directly from electrical power and may be able to shift through four gears (half of the 8-speed’s gears) independent of the gas-powered V8.
The patent actually appears to support that idea of electric propulsion by suggesting that such a set-up would use lower gears for faster acceleration and while that would limit the top speed of the car in pure electric mode, the patent states that using a lower gear in electric mode might create “tyre-grip-surpassing acceleration” aka burnouts, while a higher gear could provide “better, sportier acceleration with a higher maximum vehicle speed.”
Other benefits of the motor generator on the 8-Speed DCT may see the car switching between the ICE V8 and hybrid power while the car is at speed on the highway or when applied from a standstill for enhanced fuel savings. The one little warning bell in the back of my mind is this feature sounds a lot like the “Stop/Start” technology that no Corvette enthusiast has ever said they wanted to see on their sports cars. The motor generator on the DCT can also be used for starting the engine as well as charging the hybrid batteries while driving or it can charge the regular battery while the car is standing still.
Lastly, we note the details also show the DCT could be configured to provide “enhanced shift feelings” for a more sportier drive in hybrid mode:
“Shift feeling may be an intentional increase in acceleration during gear changes; this is known as shift interrupt. Shift feeling may be an intentional increase in acceleration during gear changes; this is known as shift boost. It is a desirable feature of manual ICE vehicle cars and in hybrid mode, the motor generator can be used to enhance both effects by aligning changes of power supplied by the motor generator unit with the gear change.”
That’s our first take on this new DCT transmission and it certainly seems to offer much more to the E-Ray than E-AWD. What are your thoughts on the E-Ray and this hybrid DCT transmission? Let us know in the comments below!
Source:
TheDrive.com
Related:
[PICS] GM Receives Design Patent for the C8 Corvette Coupe
GM Receives a New Patent for Advanced Active Aerodynamics
GM Receives Patent for an 8-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission
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![[VIDEO] Commuting Around Town in the E-Ray's Stealth Mode is Harder than it Looks](https://www.corvetteblogger.com/images/content/uploads/2024/04/041724_10-218x150.jpg "[VIDEO] Commuting Around Town in the E-Ray’s Stealth Mode is Harder Than It Looks")
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The patient diagram shows a 6 cylinder engine in front of the 8 speed DCT. If this is the hybrid plan, the front wheel drive in the E Ray may not be a feature. It would be lighter then the C8 with just an integrated electric motor. If it came with a 6 cylinder engine will it still have cylinder deactivation? A 6 with the same bore and stroke as the 2LT would product about 366 hp on its own.
Will never buy. NOT an EV advocate.
I would suggest the integrated motorized DCT is for the Zora application and not the E-Ray. The basic C8 was designed to accept a motorized front drive system to augment the LT2 engine. The Zora will have 1000 hp the front drive unit designed for the E-Ray. The LT6 FPC V8, the dual turbos from the yet to be announced ZR1 C8 a price tag way over 120k!
Sounds like an expensive Chevy Volt. GM has to get those carbon credits somehow otherwise will pay massive taxes to the Carbon Exchange. Thanks for the Paris Climate treaty. Welcome to the Green new deal.
You do realize that the Maserati MC20 use a tremec dct and has hybrid power so it could possibly be the same unit
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