Patent attributes
An auxiliary drive device includes: a drive unit that has an electric motor; a meshing clutch that has a first meshing member and a second meshing member; an actuator that moves the second meshing member; and a control unit that controls the electric motor and the actuator. The actuator moves the second meshing member among a separation position, at which the second meshing member is not meshed with the first meshing member, an abutment position, at which first meshing teeth and second meshing teeth possibly abut against each other, and a meshing position, at which the first meshing teeth and the second meshing teeth are meshed with each other. The control unit makes a current supplied to the electric motor when the second meshing member is located between the abutment position and the meshing position smaller than a current required to maintain the rotational speed of the electric motor.