A sliding mode controller for the drive line of an electrically driven vehicle with unknown backlash is derived. The controller is based on a sliding mode observer which estimates the drive shaft and load torque where the load torque results from the unknown tire-road contact forces. The drive line control was evaluated with a multi body system simulation model of an electrically driven rear axle of a hybrid prototype vehicle. The stability of the observer is analyzed for a drive line with unknown backlash.