The unique structure and innovative drive mode of distributed electric drive vehicles can significantly enhance overall vehicle performance, making them a crucial direction for the future development of electric vehicles. The application of distributed electric drive vehicles has greatly promoted technological innovations in high-performance vehicles. It not only improves energy efficiency, driving safety, and maneuverability but also provides new solutions for specialized applications such as the road transportation of oversized and heavy-haul cargo. This paper reviews the century-long evolution of vehicle configurations and highlights the inevitability of the development of distributed electric drive architectures in the context of vehicle electrification and intelligence, as well as the profound transformations they bring to the automotive industry. The paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the core technologies of distributed electric drive vehicles worldwide, identifying key challenges in their current development. Finally, the paper presents an outlook on the field, proposing future development goals and technological transformation directions for distributed electric drive vehicles, with the aim of providing scientific insights and strategic recommendations for advancing research and application in China.

Automotive chassis have undergone transformations through mechanization, electrification, and electronicization and are currently evolving toward intelligent systems. Changes in propulsion forms have resulted in significant alterations in chassis configuration, thereby necessitating innovation in the methodologies and foundational theories of chassis design. This paper provides a systematic review of the development history of automotive chassis configurations and design methodologies, examining the technological evolution from traditional internal combustion engine chassis configurations, through centralized electric drive configurations, to distributed electric drive configurations. The state-of-the-art advances in automotive chassis design methods are discussed across four dimensions: the design methodologies for modular distributed electric drive chassis, chassis design empowered by AI and optimization techniques, scenario-driven automotive chassis design, and digital virtual verification techniques for chassis systems. Addressing the challenges currently confronting chassis design methodologies, recommendations for development are proposed, focusing on three areas: interdisciplinary integration in chassis design, chassis design empowered by AI and performance analysis, and the progression of domestic chassis design software toolchains.