Hub motors revisited

[doug]

The Protean guys recently got more funding.

Protean 'Inside-Out' Wheel Motor Design: A Company To Watch?

Protean Electric snags $84 million to produce in-wheel motors in China

 

[VolkerP]

I don't see no room for brake discs?

 

[Teo_atawki]

I don't see no room for brake discs?

I'm not sure you need them in this configuration. With all wheel regenerative braking, you should be able to apply as much stopping force as the tires can transfer to the road. The ULTIMATE anti-lock brakes!

 

[doug]

I don't see no room for brake discs?

I think you can see the brake here on the inside:

Looks like a dual caliper circumferential brake setup. Strictly speaking, I suppose that's not a disk, but rather an anulus.

 

[Discoducky]

So when are these going to be put on a Model S so we can see how the performance differs? Still feel like the huge increase in unsprung weight is going to be a big detractor.

 

[TEG]

So when are these going to be put on a Model S...

Doubt we ever will...

...Still feel like the huge increase in unsprung weight is going to be a big detractor.

Yep! One reason why Tesla will probably never consider it.

 

[Discoducky]

Doubt we ever will...

Was hoping maybe Protean would buy a Model S and retro fit just to prove that a ground up EV chassis would benefit rather than be a hindrance like most of us expect.

 

[Eberhard]

This all is already done by Schaeffler group from Herzogenaurach. Ready for production.

 

[doug]

Apparently Protean got an award.

Protean's In-wheel motors named Car And Driver's "Most Promising Technology" - ABG

Some reasonable comments in that article.

Again, I really don't see any significant advantages here over inboard motors for conventional. They only seem useful to me in more extreme designs that require the wheels to turn near 90 degrees (about the vertical axis), or have the occupants sitting between the wheels.