Drive units for electric vehicles are provided. One example provides a drive unit for an electric vehicle that comprises a drive unit housing defining a form factor having a volume of less than 27,000 cm3, an electric motor comprising a rotor, a stator and a rotor shaft and an electric inverter in electrical communication with the electric motor. Both the electric motor and the electric inverter are housed within the drive unit housing and the drive unit provides a continuous power density of greater than 5 kW/kg.