Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
have been privately funded. Ontario Hydro developed an in-wheel motor for hybrid
propulsion.
Volvo Car Company examined hub motors to determine the package benefits
of fully packaged wheel assemblies that contained propulsion, steering, suspension
and braking all integrated. The recent GM Autonomy is a similar concept.
The University of Sheffield in the UK developed a demonstration wheel hub
motor for application in their Bluebird EV formula 3000 vehicle. The hub motor is
a direct drive,
f
310 mm by
L
220 mm, capable of delivering 382 Nm of continuous
torque.
Toyota Motor Co. has unveiled a wheel motor fuel cell hybrid called the FINE-S
(Fuel Cell Innovative Emotion - Sport). Toyota has already leased four FINE-S
vehicles to city officials in Japan for operational use. The design goal of FINE-S is
to focus on modularity of components and subsystems. The fuel cell components
and wheel motors permit versatile packaging freedom not available in conventional
cars.
Individual wheel motors in the FINE-S fuel cell hybrid vehicle enable low
centre of gravity, high performance handling and smooth ride qualities. Fine-tuning
the wheel motor torque levels provides high dynamic response traction control
and longitudinal stability. The four seat FINE-S concept vehicle is shown in
Figure 2.33.
A very recent illustration of in-hub motors can be found in Reference 20 in a
concept demonstration motorcycle having the complete power plant housed inside
the rear wheel hub. Developed by Franco Sbarro, and unveiled at the 2003 Geneva
Figure 2.33 Toyota fuel cell vehicle with individual wheel motors - the FINE-S
concept
