Hyundai is constant work on in-wheel hub motors for electric vehicles, two recent patent filings indicate.
One filing, published by america Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Nov. 14, 2024, after being submitted by Hyundai’s affiliated technology supplier, Hyundai Mobis, earlier within the 12 months, covers a drive mechanism that might allow a hub-mounted electric motor to spin a wheel. This may consist of a wheel bearing, outer race, and a speed reducer incorporating a hoop gear couple to the bearing.
Hyundai in-wheel drive unit patent image
The second document, published by the USPTO Oct. 29, 2024, and originally filed by Hyundai Mobis Feb. 13, 2022, is for an “in-wheel working device.” This is actually a setup for incorporating a gearshift mechanism into the rotor of a hub-mounted motor.
While not all patented ideas make it to production, these two patents indicate Hyundai is not less than still developing in-wheel motors, having teased some similar concepts up to now, including the e-Corner modular steering and propulsion system. It packaged in-wheel motors together with steering and braking hardware into modules that may very well be installed in any respect corners of a vehicle, allowing more packaging freedom and the power to rotate wheels as much as 90 degrees.
Hyundai in-wheel working device patent image
Hyundai and Kia in 2023 also unveiled another design that split the difference between conventional motors and in-wheel motors. Called the Universal Drive System—or Uni Wheel—it moved motors closer to the wheels, but not into them.
Other automakers, equivalent to Ferrari and Toyota, have patented in-wheel motor designs. China’s Dongfeng claims to be the primary to make use of in-wheel motors in a production passenger automobile, although the Lordstown Endurance pickup truck also used them before its production stalled. Aptera also plans to make use of in-wheel motors for its three-wheeler, but that vehicle can be an autocycle, not a automobile.
This Article First Appeared At www.greencarreports.com
