[Nielmo]

Using an in-wheel motor does not mandate placement in the wheels, does it?
In a conversion you could well keep the original drive train as you do with ordinary motors.
If you get the price low enough people will buy them for regular conversions too.

[WheelMotor]

Originally Posted by Nielmo

Using an in-wheel motor does not mandate placement in the wheels, does it?
In a conversion you could well keep the original drive train as you do with ordinary motors.
If you get the price low enough people will buy them for regular conversions too.

Indeed it could even be used on a front wheel driven hatch back to power the back wheels with an extra 100 Hp as a sort of turbo / nitro replacement for the extra kick during acceleration only.

My intention was to change nothing on the car, but only ad the wheel motors in a configuration around the brakes. But due to to much variables on all sorts of cars, we need first to determine with what car we start.

What worries me most: Lets assume you simply remove the back brakes on a front wheel driven Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit for example. And you replace them with a Wheel Motor, but you let all the rest of the suspension in place. We develop a system to control the reg braking in relation to the hydraulic front braking, so that the back wheels don't block due to the weight shift etc. Should work perfect. But now you have to get your car through some technical control to get it licensed for the road ...
In Belgium: No chance ! Can you get accepted in the US ? I have no idea. And how about the car insurance? In Belgium they will refuse you. If you modify your car and tell them nothing (after you have done all the paperwork) and you get an accident ... wow ... then you are in big troubles.

Who has experience with this in the US ?

[Hillbilly]

Let me know if you get one built. I think your idea has potential to be more affordable because of it's radial design. The PML Flightlink Motors are Axial. Also, your idea uses the existing brake rotor and bearing of the car, that makes it a lot easier to convert any vehicle.

I am trying to build a car company, and I really like the specs on the PML Flighlink motors, but the price is prohibitive at the moment.

[WheelMotor]

As you know, PML is bankrupt.
Mitsubishi experimented with wheel motors for it's I Miev but gave up for a simple in board E motor. The prob is the big unsprung weight. Putting the motor inside and using 2 cardans to connect to a conventional suspension makes almost no difference in performance but solves the weight problem.
In order to bring an EV on the road one has to focus on the important isues first and that is not putting the motor in the wheel I am afraid.

I haven't been here anymore, because I was close to the development of a prototype together with a french guy but the cooperation proved challenging.

It may not be a surpice that no big company has yet adopted the concept of in wheel motors.

Retrofitting is also not an option because of legal consequences. But if you know how to overcome all the hurdles I am still in Egypt and ready to prototype, on condition it can be done in a mutual feedback way and with the basic tools available this country.

[lou-ace]

Originally Posted by WheelMotor

Hi,

I have a factory in Cairo Egypt and want to produce affordable brush-less permanent magnet in wheel electric motors.

Because of low labor cost, we could custom made adaptor sets for different cars of our customers.

We are in the planning stage and want contact with people in the US that are introduced in to EV suppliers world for brainstorming, help in developing and subsequent distribution of Wheel-Motors in the US.

These have been used in model airplanes for years now. I'm excited to see that someone is finally seeing the application for our use here. I think it is the future please do continue to update us

[JRP3]

If you read through the thread you'll see the update is that it's not happening, as some of us predicted.

[WheelMotor]

Originally Posted by JRP3

If you read through the thread you'll see the update is that it's not happening, as some of us predicted.

The reason why it did not happened so far is :

1)The unsprung weight. Everybody who tries get stuck at this problem. The solution is to put a simple electric motor inside with 2 cardans to the wheels. Result: neglectable friction losses and a conventional, well understood manufacturing and fine tuning.
Making a lightweight electric motor of about 15KW that fits in a wheel is not yet possible and for sure beond the reach of this DIY forum.

2)Dirt and moist entering the EWheel motor. Easier to solve, but not to be underestimated in view of longevity.

However, in some limited applications Wheel Motors as an after market fit to an existing car might be an option, in countries that allow that. Nor central Europe, nor Egypt, countries where I am, have any chance for commercial application in after market sales for normal private cars.

Think also: Why are the guys that are developing the Chevy Volt not using Wheelmotors ? Why are nor the Mitsubishi I Miev or the Nissan Leaf equiped with Wheelmotors ?? For the same reasons !

I hope this answers the question "why it's not happening, as some of us predicted."

[JRP3]

All you've done is laid out some of the problems with wheel motors that some of us were quite aware of from the beginning, and why we predicted this project would not come into existence as originally planned. I was not asking a question as to why this didn't happen, I was pointing out that it didn't happen, just as predicted. Wheel motors are not a practical solution for most EV's at this time.

[IamIan]

Originally Posted by Carnut1420

Will these motors be geared?
I would be interested in looking at a 10kw continuous motor for a 17" automotive rim.

Buying a house will be cheaper.

I love the idea ... but the issues involved can not yet be solved inexpensively.

But if you want to spend Tesla like amounts of money for less performance ... go ahead.

[JRP3]

He won't be spending anything since these motors don't exist. Besides I think he's a spam bot.