ELECTRIC AXLE WITH DIFFERENTIAL SUN GEAR DISCONNECT CLUTCH

An electric axle is configured to selectively enable an electric motor to power a drive shall of a vehicle. The electric axle includes a differential planetary gearset configured to transmit drive torque to a drive shaft. The differential planetary gearset has a sun gear configured to circumscribe the drive shaft. A clutch is configured to selectively non-rotatably couple the sun gear to the drive shaft. The clutch may include a sleeve moveable in an axial direction.