Protean Electric introduces production in-wheel motor at SAE World Congress; 25% increase in peak torque
16 April 2013
Protean Electric introduced its production in-wheel motor at the 2013 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit. (Earlier post.)
The motors reside in the space behind the wheel. Protean’s new production motor provides a 25% increase in peak torque compared with the previous generation’s design and can deliver 1,000 N·m (735 lb-ft) and 75 kW (100 hp).
Other features of Protean’s in-wheel motors include:
Mass of only 31 kg (68 lbs) per motor.
Up to 85% of the available kinetic energy to be recovered during braking.
Fuel economy improvements up to 30% in hybrid configurations, as compared to the existing vehicle, depending on battery size.
Protean has developed multiple demonstration vehicles, including a Vauxhall Vivaro cargo van, Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group (GAC) Trumpchi sedan, a Ford F150 pick-up truck, and BRABUS full electric and hybrid vehicles, based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Protean Electric is presenting a paper at the World Congress: “Using Vehicle Simulation to Investigate Controllability”.
1,000 N·m (735 lb-ft)
Ford F150 pick-up
That was the demo truck that had a video, it would certainly have enough torque.
Posted by: SJC | 16 April 2013 at 02:10 PM
I gave ford, gmc and a whole bunch of others a powertrain design more than ten years ago that had 4000 nm and got 100+ mpg.
All but one - Indian company - said, "No thanks".
A west coast dealer had a concept car built following my suggestions and showed it at a 2004 auto show. It stirred up a lot of attention, but to this day another vehicle with all the improvements hasn't been built.
Posted by: Lucas | 16 April 2013 at 04:21 PM