What does drivetrain mean?
Drivetrain is a noun referring to the system of components in a vehicle that transfers power from its engine or motor to the wheels. In a conventional car, this typically includes the transmission, driveshaft, differential, and axles; in an electric vehicle, it may consist of little more than a motor and a reduction gear. The term belongs chiefly to automotive and mechanical-engineering vocabulary and appears constantly in vehicle specifications, repair manuals, and warranty documents — many manufacturers offer dedicated 'drivetrain warranties' covering these components. It is closely related to 'powertrain,' which is broader: a powertrain includes the engine or motor itself, while the drivetrain comprises only the parts that transmit its output. Because electric vehicles eliminate much of the traditional hardware, 'drivetrain' has taken on renewed interest as engineers redesign what power delivery can look like. The word is neutral and technical in register, understood by mechanics and car buyers alike.
nounThe group of components in a vehicle that transmits power from the engine or motor to the wheels, including the transmission, driveshaft, differential, and axles. In electric vehicles, it may also encompass the motor and related gearing.
- The assembly of components — such as the transmission, driveshaft, differential, and axles — that conveys mechanical power from a vehicle's engine or motor to its driving wheels.
"The mechanic traced the strange vibration to a worn universal joint in the drivetrain."
"The pickup's rugged drivetrain handled the steep, muddy trail without complaint."
"Electric vehicles have simpler drivetrains than combustion cars because they need no multi-speed gearbox."
Regular plural; commonly used when comparing different vehicle configurations or designs.
"Rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive drivetrains distribute power very differently."
Your engine gets all the glory, but without the drivetrain it would just be an expensive machine for spinning metal in place.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of drivetrain
Drivetrain is a twentieth-century compound of 'drive' (from Old English drīfan) and 'train' (from Old French trahiner, ultimately from Latin trahere, meaning 'to draw or pull'), combining the sense of propulsion with the sense of a linked series of components. It arose as automobiles became widespread and engineers needed a collective term for the machinery linking engine to wheels. Its component roots connect it broadly to words like 'traction' and 'tractor,' which share the Latin pulling sense.
How drivetrain is actually used
Primarily used in automotive and engineering contexts. 'Drivetrain' is more common in North American usage; British English often prefers 'transmission' or 'running gear' depending on context. The term is standard in marketing and warranty language for cars and bicycles alike.
Easily confused with drivetrain
A powertrain includes the engine or motor itself plus everything the drivetrain contains, whereas the drivetrain is only the components that transfer that power to the wheels.