Final answer:
The electric front-wheel-drive (eFWD) configuration lacks a traditional drive shaft because it uses electric motors in the hubs of the wheels to directly drive the wheels, bypassing the need for a drive shaft. The correct answer is D) Electric Front-wheel-drive (eFWD).
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked which of the following Drive configurations technically lacks a traditional drive shaft: A) Front-wheel-drive (FWD), B) Rear-wheel-drive (RWD), C) All-wheel-drive (AWD), D) Electric Front-wheel-drive (eFWD). The configuration that lacks a traditional drive shaft is D) Electric Front-wheel-drive (eFWD). In traditional combustion engine vehicles with FWD, RWD, or AWD, a drive shaft is used to connect the gearbox to the wheels, transmitting power from the engine.
However, in an electric front-wheel-drive (eFWD) system, the use of electric motors integrated into the wheels themselves eliminates the need for a drive shaft. Instead, power is delivered directly to the wheels with electric motors, often located in the wheel hubs similar to the illustrated bicycle hub motor. So, the correct answer is D) Electric Front-wheel-drive (eFWD).