Schaeffler has introduced a new innovative E-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. 

The compact concept 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, such as the electric motor, power electronics, controller, brake, and cooling system, are installed inside the wheel rim.

The drives are capable of a power output in the region of 100 HP with the liquid-cooled wheel hubs s also capable of delivering 700 Nm of torque.

Prof. Peter Gutzmer, Member of the Executive Board and CTO at Schaeffler, said: “Thanks to this highly-integrated wheel hub drive, we can now re-think the city car without restrictions. It will be a key factor in new vehicle concepts and automobile platforms in the future. For electric vehicles used in urban environments, which may become obligatory in many densely populated areas, the wheel hub drive makes previously unheard-of space savings possible.” He added, “In these new vehicle concepts, all components that are relevant for propulsion, braking, and driving safety are housed inside the wheel. The vehicle platform therefore provides maximum space for passengers, luggage, and for the battery, electronics, and communication systems.”

In addition to regulating the stability of the driving dynamics, the two wheel hub drives also allow so-called torque vectoring, or the selective distribution of the torque to the wheels. This offers great potential for increased manoeuvrability, driving dynamics, and active safety in addition to the perfect utilisation of space.