Protean Electric looks to revolutionize electric cars with in-wheel motors

[Conservative]

this looks very promising for reducing weight and eventually costs on electric cars. I like the idea it can be used to retrofit existing cars. How about an electric '67 Mustang?

Protean Electric looks to revolutionize electric cars with in-wheel motors | Fox News

Unlike many existing systems that use large motors to drive either a transmission or axles to get power to the wheels, Protean’s in-wheel motors are fully housed within the otherwise conventional wheels, which are bolted directly to them.

Protean’s innovative design packages the stationary, permanent magnet at the center of the device while the rotor is on the outside, making it easier for the wheel to be directly attached. Inverters and power electronics are housed between the two, rather than in a remote unit, further simplifying and reducing the weight of the complete system. Each motor is made up of between four and eight parallel submotors, so in the event that one fails the unit can continue to operate until it is serviced.

With an $84 million investment from Chinese investor GSR Partners, Protean is building a manufacturing center in the city of Liyang, China, that will have an initial capacity to build 50,000 motors per year and will begin pre-production in early 2013.

Purcell says the company will handle early production in house at its new facility, but the business plan is to ultimately license the technology to large manufacturers that can build the product in very high volumes themselves.

 

[hortysir]

I know it's a serious topic and it really sounds like a major breakthrough,,,,,,

But the immature kid in me can't help giggling at you misspelling "protein"

 

[Conservative]

I know it's a serious topic and it really sounds like a major breakthrough,,,,,,

But the immature kid in me can't help giggling at you misspelling "protein"

That would be because Protean is the actual spelling of the company...lol

 

[ScienceRocks]

Now this is the way to move electric cars ahead. If this is so then electric cars maybe the future!

 

[Old Rocks]

If they can get the costs of the motors to a reasonable level, this will be a very good technology. However, it is hardly new.

Electric Mini: 0-60 in 4 Seconds: It Has Motors In Its Wheels : TreeHugger

A British engineering firm has put together a high-performance hybrid version of BMW's Mini Cooper. The PML Mini QED has a top speed of 150 mph, a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. The car uses a small gasoline engine with four 160 horsepower electric motors — one on each wheel. The car has been designed to run for four hours of combined urban/extra urban driving, powered only by a battery and bank of ultra capacitors. The QED supports an all-electric range of 200-250 miles and has a total range of about 932 miles (1,500 km). For longer journeys at higher speeds, a small conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) is used to re-charge the battery. In this hybrid mode, fuel economies of up to 80mpg can be achieved.

 

[chikenwing]

Not new motors like this have been around a very long time.

 

[there4eyeM]

True, this is not exactly totally new. It is a good idea, however, for those who use automobiles for personal purposes. Car makers don't like it, though. It doesn't wear out nearly fast enough. Oil companies certainly don't like it. Unfortunately, the electricity for these vehicles also comes from doubtful sources. It should be that only electric cars be produced, and for each car the equivalent pv panels to support it.

But that would be a reasonable solution. Not too many of those seem to escape into the wild.

 

[ScienceRocks]

True, this is not exactly totally new. It is a good idea, however, for those who use automobiles for personal purposes. Car makers don't like it, though. It doesn't wear out nearly fast enough. Oil companies certainly don't like it. Unfortunately, the electricity for these vehicles also comes from doubtful sources. It should be that only electric cars be produced, and for each car the equivalent pv panels to support it.

But that would be a reasonable solution. Not too many of those seem to escape into the wild.

You should be a supporter of New nuclear technology as it doesn't admit co2 and produces a shit load of energy. A car like this with a few hundred new nuclear plants would go a long ways to what you want. You could cover the entire country with tens of millions of solar panels and the same with wind mills...Yet wake up one day with environmental problems to worry about as all the deserts are covered with solar panels. Just as so as any other.

Of course I have nothing against solar or wind, but they surely take up a lot of land.

 

[chikenwing]

True, this is not exactly totally new. It is a good idea, however, for those who use automobiles for personal purposes. Car makers don't like it, though. It doesn't wear out nearly fast enough. Oil companies certainly don't like it. Unfortunately, the electricity for these vehicles also comes from doubtful sources. It should be that only electric cars be produced, and for each car the equivalent pv panels to support it.

But that would be a reasonable solution. Not too many of those seem to escape into the wild.

Electric cars have their place and will only expand with time,we do have a problem with were the power will come from. PV will work for some not so much for others

Electric motors are fairly efficient,smooth running,and are constant tork,they have many advantages over gas motors,as well as disadvantages.

You won't see many people doing their own repairs,the tech is way beyond most.

 

[there4eyeM]

Oops, didn't mean to draw out anti-solar forces.
The idea of more nukes is abhorrent. Further centralization of power, both literal and political, is totally repugnant. There is nothing wrong with local production of necessary energy.
The problem? Some think two ton S-tupid U-seless V-ehicles are necessary (and of course I don't mean for someone high in the Rockies that uses it to feed the deer in winter!). Gross over-consumption has become the standard to which anything realistic is compared, especially in the US. Enough electricity is wasted that no nukes at all would be necessary to feed the power grid now. Build more? No!