Schaeffler showcases innovative E-Wheel Drive electric wheel hub drive
Schaeffler has showcased its innovativeE-Wheel Drive electric wheel hub drive.
The electric drive featured on a development vehicle created in co-operation with Ford and based on a Ford Fiesta which made its public debut at a recent European automotive show.
The compact car is driven using two Schaeffler E-Wheel Drives that are installed in the rear wheel arches.
All components required for drive, deceleration, and driving safety in the highly-integrated wheel hub drive – like the electric motor, power electronics, controller, brake, and cooling system – are installed inside the wheel rim.
They boast technical key data of 40 kW per drive, and a continuous output of 2 x 33 which equates to 110 and 90 HP, respectively. The liquid-cooled wheel hub drive, which is in its second (Beta) stage of development, also delivers up to 700 Nm of torque.
In comparison to the first-generation (Alpha) wheel hub drive, which was first exhibited in Schaeffler’s Opel Corsa-based Schaeffler Hybrid concept car in 2010, the E-Wheel Drive Beta features an output increase of one-third, as well as 75 percent more torque. The electrical voltage of the high-voltage drive is 360-420 V.
The highly-integrated wheel hub drive has a total weight of 53 kilograms, so the weight increase compared to a conventional wheel with a wheel bearing and brake is 45kg. It has a 16-litre housing, which is housed inside a 16-inch wheel rim.
It outweighs its Alpha-generation predecessor, which still featured power electronics installed in the vehicle, by an additional 6kgs.