Evans Electric’s In-Wheel Motors Debut On Mitsubishi Evo

In-wheel electric motors are supposed to be a major turning point for electric motors, boosting efficiency, performance, and handling while lowering the curb weight. Australia’s Evans Electrics recently rolled out a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution equipped with four of their in-wheel electric motors, boasting a peak output of more than 3,600 ft-lbs of torque.

That is, of course, peak output; the nominal output of each wheel-mounted motor is 460 ft-lbs of torque, and about 100 horsepower, meaning some serious acceleration from this former gas-burner. The Evans Electric Evo hasn’t hit the track yet, though the company is promising that within the next few months we’ll get to see what all the hubbub is about.

Evans Electric has been hard at work for six years on their in-wheel electric motor, so they really better bring the wow factor, as it were. Other companies like competitor Protean are slated to begin production of their in-wheel electric motors in 2014, and have already displayed working prototypes on performance Mercedes tuned by Brabus.

But with 400 horsepower, and over 1,700 ft-lbs of torque on tap, this electric Evo could really turn some heads in the EV and performance world. Because it doesn’t need axles or a gearbox, it is lighter than a typical electric car, and each wheel can be controlled independently for tighter turned, better stopping, and superior acceleration that conventional cars can’t even imagine. The potential is huge, and the people have been patient, so here is hoping Evans Electric can deliver.

 Source: Evans Electrics via Autoblog Green

MTSU group seeking to commercialize new wheel motor plug-in hybrid retrofit kit

A group at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), led by Dr. Charles Perry, who holds the Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence, has developed and demonstrated a proof-of-concept for a wheel motor plug-in hybrid retrofit kit for almost any car.
The core of the system is a new wheel motor invented by Perry and Paul Martin III; four patents are pending. They took the space that exists around the rear-wheel brake structure and packaged in a 3-phase DC brushless traction motor on each rear wheel. The stator magnets are packaged all the way around the backside; these are electromagnets switched on and off at the proper intervals as controlled by three Hall effect sensors. An array of 40 permanent magnets are on the backside of the rotor.

Design of the new wheel motor. Click to enlarge.

When the system is actuated, says Perry, each motor delivers 200 lb-ft (271 N·m) of torque, without modification to the wheel mounts. For the research vehicle, the system uses an 80V, 100A Li-ion phosphate battery pack with dual DC brushless motor controllers (one for each wheel motor). The production version pack will be smaller, Perry suggests.
The system is targeted at lower speed and city cycle driving; at high speeds the system deactivates and is transparent to the vehicle, Perry says. Perry and his current five-member team saw gas mileage increase anywhere from 50 to 100% on a 1994 Honda station wagon retrofitted with laboratory prototype plug-in hybrid capability.
Perry is now talking with several potential investors—companies with vehicle fleets—to solicit funds to build and demonstrate a manufacturing version of the plug-in hybrid technology.

The whole point was to demonstrate the feasibility of adding the electrical motor to the rear wheel of the car without changing the brakes, bearings, suspension—anything mechanical.

We have gained proof of concept in terms of feasibility. We need quite a bit of money to have proof of product. What we’ve achieved is a demonstrated technology, not a proven technology. Investors want to see proven field-tested performance and reliability. We have to pass through this transition, from feasibility to true, viable product.

—Charles Perry

Perry, who had 40 patents in a 28-year career with IBM before coming to MTSU, said a manufacturing partner has stepped forward “and is totally committed to us” and will accompany him to anticipated upcoming presentations.
Perry said Lou Svendsen, university counsel with the Tennessee Board of Regents, will join him in approaching companies that have both US and worldwide fleets of vehicles, especially those “interested in green technology, reducing carbon footprint and savings in fuel costs.”




Source: Green Car Congress

In-wheel electric drive company Protean receives $84M in funding; to build production plant in China

Protean Electric, developer of in-wheel electric drive systems, received $84 million in new funding from GSR Ventures, New Times Group, Oak Investment Partners and the city of Liyang, Jiangsu Province, China. This capital will be used to bring Protean’s electric drive technology to production by establishing manufacturing facilities in Liyang.
The funding is led by GSR Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Beijing and Silicon Valley. They will be joined by the New Times Group, a Liyang-based industrial group. Oak Investment Partners, Protean’s first venture investor, is also participating in this round of funding. The city of Liyang is partnering to provide prototype manufacturing support, with favorable industrial policy.

GSR is honored to lead this round of investment in a disruptive technology that we believe has great promise for the Chinese automotive market and potentially building a global EV platform.

—Sonny Wu, GSR Ventures managing director

This marks Protean Electric’s entry into China, the world's largest automobile market. In 2011, China automobile sales exceeded 18.5 million units. Passenger car sales climbed to about 14.5 million units; commercial vehicle sales exceeded 4 million units. Total vehicle registrations in China today total over 100 million automobiles.
The Chinese government just published a plan through 2020 to accelerate the production and adoption of new energy vehicles, including electric drive vehicles.

With this round of investment in place, Protean Electric is now positioned to move aggressively to production and into the market. All of our investors believe in our technology and share in our vision to make Protean Electric the world leader for in-wheel electric drive. We will have the capability to directly supply our motors at lower volume levels, while providing licenses to our higher volume customers and partners.

We have a very unique value proposition: We can create hybrid and electric drive vehicle options, on the vehicles that people like to drive. We can provide more power, better fuel economy, easier integration, and lower cost. The Protean Electric drive system is probably as close as the industry will ever get to a bolt-on solution.

—Bob Purcell, chairman and CEO of Protean Holdings Corp.

Features of Protean’s in-wheel motors include:

• Fuel economy improvements up to 30% depending on battery size;
• Highest torque density of any of today’s leading electric propulsion systems;
• 81 kW (110 hp) and 800 N·m (590 lb-ft) from each motor;
• 31 kg (68 lbs) per motor;
• Fits within the space of a conventional 18- to 24-inch road wheel; and
• Regenerative braking capabilities allowing up to 85% of the available kinetic energy to be recovered during braking.

Protean Electric’s plans in China call for beginning prototype motor production early next year and volume production in 2014.
Protean has been awarded 21 patents for its technology and design, and more than 70 additional patent applications have been filed internationally and with specific countries in North America, Europe and Asia. Protean also has won the 2012 Technology Pioneers Award from the World Economic Forum as being one of most promising start-up technology companies in the world.
In addition, Protean has developed multiple demonstration vehicles, including a Ford F150 pick-up truck, Volvo C30, Vauxhall Vivaro cargo van, Guangzhou Automobile Company Trumpchi, and BRABUS full electric and hybrid vehicles, based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and were featured at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.


Source: Green Car Congress