Hyundai and Kia move EV motors closer to the wheels but not in them

Hyundai and Kia on Wednesday unveiled a brand new EV motor design that splits the distinction between standard motors and in-wheel motors.

Dubbed the Common Wheel Drive System—or Uni Wheel for brief—this design strikes motors nearer to the wheels however not into them.  That is made attainable by a planetary gear set with a central solar gear, 4 pinion gears on all sides, and a surrounding ring gear linked to the wheel.

The motor spins the solar gear, which transmits energy via the pinion gears to show the ring gear, and thus the wheel. This association replaces the discount gears utilized in standard EVs, nonetheless permitting the motor to spin many occasions for every rotation of the pushed wheel.

Hyundai and Kia Uni Wheel drive system for EVs

Hyundai and Kia Uni Wheel drive system for EVs

Hyundai and Kia declare the Uni Wheel can unencumber extra inside area by transferring parts nearer to the wheels, whereas enhancing effectivity and sturdiness by eliminating CV joints. And it is configured in a approach in order to keep away from the considerations about unsprung mass which have given engineers pause relating to in-wheel motors, the automakers declare, including that the Uni Wheel could be mixed with an electronically-adjustable air suspension.

The Uni Wheel setup additionally permits for a better discount ratio, delivering ample torque with extra compact motors, Hyundai and Kia declare. It permits for as much as 4 motors with torque vectoring, however this begs the query of whether or not 4 separate motors can be higher than simply two (or one). That is one which Rivian has confronted—in reassessing the Quad Motor layout it initially emphasised.

Hyundai and Kia Uni Wheel drive system for EVs

Hyundai and Kia Uni Wheel drive system for EVs

The Uni-Wheel is perhaps part of a future EV structure that really maximizes area—one thing the manufacturers already made plenty of progress towards in their shared E-GMP platform for present EVs. Hyundai stopped growing gasoline powertrains in 2021, so it is doubtless been pivoting to options like this that could possibly be scaled as much as the identical degree.

Hyundai does not straight level to this resolution with its e-Corner maneuverability tech—which additionally depends on motors positioned on the corners of the automobile—nevertheless it looks as if the subsequent step.


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