Before formally introducing ProteanElectric's in-wheel motor technology, it's necessary to clarify that applying in-wheel motor technology to automobile manufacturing is not a new concept. As early as 1900, Ferdinand Porsche proposed the idea of mounting motors on wheels and was the first to manufacture an electric car with in-wheel motors on the front wheels. However, while the idea was there, the production technology of that era clearly couldn't adequately address battery life, durability, and a host of other issues.
It wasn't until the 1970s that in-wheel motor technology was widely applied in specialized fields such as mining vehicles. For its use in ordinary passenger cars, Japanese manufacturers began research and development earlier and currently hold a leading position in the industry. Automotive giants including GM and Volkswagen have also been involved in this technology. Currently, some domestic Chinese automakers have also begun developing this technology. For example, the Chery X1 range-extended electric vehicle, showcased at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, utilized in-wheel motor technology.
What is Protean Electric? And what is Protean Drive?
In short, Protean Electric is a clean energy company headquartered in Detroit, USA, and a leader in the development and commercialization of automotive in-wheel motor systems; ProteanDrive® is the name of their integrated drive in-wheel motor system. The company currently has operations centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and China.
The new in-wheel motor is more powerful and has a wider range of applications.
Protean's in-wheel motors weigh approximately 34 kg each and deliver a maximum power output of 100 horsepower (about 75 kW) and a maximum torque of 995 Nm. They also recover about 85% of braking energy and work well with conventional vehicle powertrains, enabling conversion into hybrid vehicles. The in-wheel motors are compatible with 18-24 inch wheels. The system also includes a power supply system that can reduce fuel consumption by 30%.
The basic structure is the same; the manufacturing process and durability are more important.
The basic in-wheel motor mechanism is largely the same: a separate fixed rotor, bearings containing electronic control components, an inverter, and a stator. More complex models may integrate a suspension damping system within the wheel hub. However, this isn't the most important factor. What truly influences the widespread adoption and popularity of in-wheel motors is their durability. Compared to body panels, the working environment of a wheel is much harsher. Complex electronic components face significant challenges from frequent bouncing and environmental erosion. Therefore, Protean's products feature improved encapsulation and reinforced vulnerable components.
Collaboration with renowned vehicle tuning company Brabus
For durability testing, Protean Electric and the automotive tuning company Brabus have collaborated on a hybrid vehicle. The modified car uses a traditional diesel engine combined with Protean Electric's in-wheel motors to power the rear wheels. The in-wheel motors, mounted on both sides, provide the vehicle with 80 kW (110 hp) and 800 Nm of peak torque. Thanks to the in-wheel motors, the modified car can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 7.4 seconds, and from 60 km/h to 120 km/h in less than 5.6 seconds.
2. A technology with advantages accompanied by skepticism
Many transmission components can be eliminated, making the car lighter and more compact.
For ordinary passenger vehicles, various transmission mechanisms are obviously essential key components, directly affecting vehicle performance; however, complex transmission structures often mean greater weight and a higher failure rate. Correspondingly, in-wheel motors solve this problem well, with a simple structure that significantly reduces transmission components, improves transmission efficiency, and also increases space.
A car with six wheels or eight wheels is fine.
Because hub motors allow for independent drive of each wheel, they can more easily achieve front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive configurations. Furthermore, hub motors can achieve differential steering similar to tracked vehicles by varying the speeds of the left and right wheels, or even reversing their rotation, significantly reducing the turning radius and proving highly practical for specialized vehicles.
A good partner for new energy vehicles
In terms of current development trends, new energy vehicles increasingly adopt electric drive to meet general transportation needs, with in-wheel motors serving as the primary driving force. For hybrid vehicles, in-wheel motors can also act as supplementary power for starting and rapid acceleration, while regenerative braking can also be easily implemented in in-wheel motors.
Another noteworthy point is that cars using Protean in-wheel motors can arbitrarily distribute torque after the ECU issues a command. This torque can be distributed to the wheels without the need for a complex mechanical system (torque vectoring technology). This technology was first used in racing cars, but has recently been introduced into the design of all-wheel-drive vehicles.
Correspondingly, despite its long development, in-wheel motor technology still faces challenges. Firstly, it may affect the vehicle's driving experience. This is understandable, as performance cars that prioritize driving feel typically use lighter materials for suspension components, especially reducing unsprung weight. However, equipping in-wheel motors significantly increases the vehicle's weight, inevitably impacting driving pleasure to some extent.
Another point is that it can easily affect the vehicle's braking performance and energy consumption. We all know that passenger cars with traditional transmissions require an engine to drive a vacuum pump, but after replacing it with a hub motor, the vacuum pump's energy source will be the motor. This may mean more electrical energy consumption, and hub motors usually don't have a large energy reserve. At the same time, hub motors operate in harsh environments, facing various influences such as water and dust, and have higher requirements for sealing. The design also needs to consider heat dissipation issues separately for hub motors.
Despite the challenges, more and more domestic automakers are beginning to take notice of this technology. For example, FAW-Volkswagen has already partnered with Protean Electric to produce a demonstration vehicle. Meanwhile, Protean Electric has also established a factory in Liyang, China. By transferring the motor from the body to the wheels, a significant amount of vehicle space is saved, while also making car design more flexible. It is believed that concept cars and mass-produced vehicles launched with this technology will come into our view in the future, which is certainly a good thing.
