Driven auxiliary device on a motor vehicle

The auxiliary element has a transmission (2) with a driven flange (3), an auxiliary unit (18) such as a compressor, pump or generator, and a cardan shaft (7) and drive flange. The drive flange points in the same direction as the driven flange, and the cardan shaft connects the transmission to a deflection device which transmits the rotational movement of the cardan shaft to the drive flange. The deflection device is constructed as a belt drive with an upper and lower belt pulley interconnected by a V-belt.