Revolutionary Wheel for Electric Cars Puts Guts Inside Wheel
By integrating a motor, suspension system, brakes and tire into a standalone wheel package, Michelin’s paradigm-changing “Active Wheel” technology is an innovation that could make electric cars truly affordable and practical, as well as fundamentally change the way we approach car design.
When you’ve eliminated the need for an engine, a transmission, a drive shaft, a differential, an exhaust system, shock absorbers and a suspension system within the chassis of the car, not only can you start to imagine entirely different car shapes, you can have both front and rear “trunk” storage, have a lot more room for people in the cabin, and create new safety features to boot.
- » See also: Is the Renault-Nissan Alliance Going in Two Different Electric Car Directions?
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Earlier this year at the Paris Motor Show Michelin revealed the Active Wheel to the world and has since been busy firming up plans to put it in an actual car by 2010, and partnering with other companies for future cars. Granted, the first implementation of the Active Wheel technology does not win any awards for innovative exterior design, but it’s just a start.
The first production car to use the technology will be the 2010 Heuliez WILL, the result of a collaboration between Heuliez, Michelin and Orange. Michelin says the WILL has enough room for 5 people, even though it’s about the size of a compact car.
The WILL can go from 0-62 mph (0-100 km) in 10 seconds with a top speed of 87 mph (140 km/h) — making it fully highway legal. It also will have a range of 93, 186 or 248 miles (150, 300 or 400 km) on a single charge, depending on the modular battery configuration the driver chooses. Target price is around $30,000, putting it in the realm of affordability for most people.
Due to the collaboration with French telecom company Orange, the WILL has been fully wired for advanced communications options including WiFi and 3G.
Taking advantage of the fact that there’s nothing under the hood, the WILL has an extremely large crumple zone up front, prompting Michelin to claim that the WILL is “just as safe as the big cars on the road.” Additionally, the advanced electrical suspension system in the Active Wheels controls all pitching and rolling with an extremely rapid computer response time — 3/1000th of a second — which also presumably adds to the car’s safety.
The first WILLs are already on the road enduring testing and by 2010 the cars will be available for business fleets. Heuliez envisions that first-year production output will be several thousand vehicles. By 2011 Michelin and Heuliez plan on making the vehicles available to the general public.
I only hope that by then we’ve worked out a way for cars designed in the European market to be easily imported to the North American market, ’cause I might just be the first in line.
Update: Bonus video found on YouTube shows off an early concept car using the Active Wheel technology.
Source and Image Credits: Michelin
I can see lots of possibilties with this design-
want 4-wheel drive? want to add power at your next tire change? need better brakes? need to electronically control exactly how much power goes to each wheel (for ice/snow driving)?
This approach is really interesting.
Just talked yesterday with a MIT Director about the fact that energy source/motor engine is going closer where needed, in this case close to wheels. This approach has been used by MIT in developing their concept electric car.
I wonder if the electrical suspension motor could be used as a generator. e.g. when you hit bumps or corner, the up/down motion would generate electricity. Thus, another source of regenerative energy to extend driving range.
I think that michelin has shown this invent because they will certify it without more problems.
I think that if this kind of wheels can be implemented in the future cars, a lot of factories will have to close their door because this kind of package needs less part cars and because the complexity to assembly this kind of cars is less.
Be careful if you are working in a tradicional car factory.
And finally, it will be possible in the future a car with electric wheels and with a cell fuel generator??
Well to answer Jo, a differential who seize on a car can do that too.
So to test it properly those cars in real hard environment, let’s organize race of those cars.
As fact Porsche first race car was an electric hybrid car. And that’s was in early 1900.
So, let’s go in electric car development and kick off those inefficient Internal combustion, cars.
And by the same way we can save a bit of air, we breathe.
THATS UNIQUE AND SAVES ON WEIGHT. THIS COULD CHANGE THE CAR COMPLETELY, LIKE LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT AND MAKING CAR AND TRUCK BODIES OUT OF LIGHTWEIGHT FIBERGLASS, BUT HOW WOULD YOU HEAT AND AIR CONDITION IT? YOU’D NEED A ALTERNATOR OR GENERATOR, PREFERRABLY ELECTRIC, SEPARATE FROM THE WHEELS OR A AUTOMATIC RECHARGER WHILE RUNNING TO KEEP ALL EQUIPTMENT CHARGING AND A CHARGER OR RECHARGABLE CHARGER TO KEEP EACH WHEEL CHARGED, SO ONE CAN GO FOREVER. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. ITS TO BAD YOU CANT MAKE IT SOONER THAN 2010.
@Salva
You should look up the efficiency on current fuel cell tech. It is much lower than that of batteries. I dont understand the point of having this IN the wheel, why not on an axle a foot away from the wheel. Seems like a lot more suspension travel and less complicated set up could be have. Also this looks like it would be a huge pain in the ass to work on. I do know that if we go to electric vehicles this is how we will do it (one motor per drive wheel). Just right now the tech for batteries or fuel cells needs to improve for it to become practical. Or the price of gas going up ten fold would count as making this practical.
Heuliez is said to be road-testing prototypes right now, probably in France. Where can I read about their progress (if any) ?
13 years in racing and he’s never heard of ‘lifeing’ components to predict when they’ll break?? .. real engineer talking there.
Motor seizing??? What a brainless comment. Why would an electric wheel motor seize? the ONLY friction generated is from the wheel bearing and how often do they fail? There’s less friction in a wheel motor than in a friction brake system.
If you’re looking for super high amounts of friction look no further than the ICE and entire drivetrain.
Honestly… just say anything as long as it’s ignorant and negative!
What I have seen with the electric motor is that the comand is sent by dc or only in one dierction form the inverter to the coil, if we can invent a way for the comand to be sent ac, or in both directions from the inverter and the coils. Well it will make the power last longer while speeding up the car. just an idea I had like How are body works compaired to a robot!