RX8Club.com - Michelin E-Wheel motor in wheel tech

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Michelin E-Wheel motor in wheel tech

New article from Engadget I think Id reallly likew a car like this- the control over suspension braking and turnign would be just incredible and car design itself unhindered.

Quote:

Electric car development is prompting a rethink in virtually every aspect of the automobile, from the size of the vehicle to the number of wheels and beyond. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the newest collab between Valeo and Michelin. The companies have agreed to collaborate on "electric and rechargeable hybrid vehicle systems such as the drive train, engine and battery cooling management, climate control, lighting, energy management and tires," beginning with the e-wheel. Using Michelin's Active Wheel Technology, this new device puts two electric wheels inside the hub -- one for motive power, one for active suspension -- a design that negates the need for gearboxes, drive shafts, and conventional suspension assemblies. The design has previously been tested in the Venturi Volage concept car, and the companies are currently looking to get involved with a mass-market auto maker to take this project to the next level. So if you're a large auto maker, give these guys a call -- and tell 'em Engadget sent you. Another image after the break.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....-ewheel-01.jpg

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/m...ive-shaft-and/

Video of a Volvo with the system

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T40ZqLZiZyg

Previous article about the concept tried before and the video for it :D

http://www.gizmag.com/michelin-activ...by-2010/10489/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1uTR...layer_embedded

Siemens is working on similar tech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tLQ2-yKT4Y

wow awesome find. that is pretty cool design.

pml flightlink has some really nice in wheel motors. They've shown them of in a Mini, a Volvo, and most recently a Ford F150. They have self contained computers that merely need to connect electronically to the other wheels to control wheel slip. Great system. This is what I've been saying is the future of cars. It's electric with gasoline or diesel range extenders in series if need be.

Test Drive of the Volvo Recharge

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wwE2LYLKzs

and of course they are still working on the tweel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqRJ9GfIJtI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gANJWRWIs

The Volvo is using PML FLightlink motors i believe

Here's the F150 mentioned by RG and a mini

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSBvOMXDEzQ

Test Drive teh F150 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdwsCNlEonQ

mini http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Sy7XnJBPE

And what Im saying Fred is that instead of an IC range extender you use a Hydrogen Fuel Cell :)

cant wait to get home and check out the video links. work blocks site :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom44 (Post 2873473)

And what Im saying Fred is that instead of an IC range extender you use a Hydrogen Fuel Cell :)

A hydrogen fuel cell is basically a battery in hydrogen form. It's not a range extender any more than a battery is but it's less effcient than one. A hydrogen fuel cell is only about 80% efficient at generating electricity. A battery is about 90% efficient. As with the comparison between hydrogen and gasoline, no matter what it's used for, it's still less efficient.

I know. I'll see hydrogen go away! It's not "if". It's "when". That's a fact.

At first, I was skeptical about the 2nd motor in each wheel for the suspension control--would the extra unsprung weight over a traditional suspension be worth it? But wow that reverse body roll looks like an awful lot of fun:

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoom44 (Post 2873436)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1uTR...layer_embedded

"For example, electric active suspension can react in 0.0003/sec and control ride height, pitch under braking and roll during cornering replacing passive anti-roll bars. ...

Each Michelin in-wheel motor weighs 42 kilogram (95 pound) and includes a 30 Kilowatt water-cooled drive motor of a similar size to a conventional starter motor. ... A second electric motor operates the active suspension via a gear rack and pinion that effectively replaces the normal hydraulic shock absorber (no news on if they are used as regenerative shocks). There is also a coil spring to hold the static load of the car and a small outer rotor disc brake. The wheel motor is attached to the vehicle chassis by a single lower control arm suspension arrangement."

+1g braking from 62-0 in 2.8 seconds sounds like a blast too. I'm ready for the car of the future.

Amazing wheel and hybrid technology... but can you image what would happen if you hit a curb? You thought suspension parts were expensive.

I remember seeing a 'Suspension Wheel' when I was a kid on one of those Inventor shows for a "normal" cars mechanical drive train...I wonder whatever happened to it....it was going to revolutionize car design as you could have a fixed axle with the wheel doing all the work.

Another invention that went to the "graveyard".