Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have unveiled the Universal Wheel Drive System, a paradigm-shifting vehicle drive system that will revolutionise the design of future mobility devices.
Called ‘Uni Wheel’, it is a functionally integrated wheel drive system that dramatically improves available space inside an electric vehicle (EV) by moving the main drive system components to the vacant space within the wheel hub. In doing so, Hyundai and Kia have designed a completely new structure for the drive system.
In internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles power is transmitted from the engine through the transmission and to the wheels via drive shafts and constant velocity (CV) joints. In EVs, the engine and transmission are replaced by a motor and reduction gear, but the final method of transmission to the wheels is the same.
Uni Wheel opens new possibilities and enables a flat-floor configuration by moving an EV’s reduction gear inside the wheel hub, locating a compact individual motor close to each wheel, reducing the length of the drive shafts.
The system frees up significantly more interior space compared with conventional drive systems, enabling future mobility products optimised for various applications, such as Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs).
“We are pleased to showcase innovative ideas that could become game changers in the future mobility market,” said Jongsool Park, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Technology Development of Hyundai Motor Group.
“We will perfect the technology so that customers can experience mobility in a completely different and new way.”
Source: Hyundai Motor Company Australia | Hyundai Motor and Kia Unveil Paradigm-Shifting ‘Uni Wheel’ Drive System to Transform Mobility Design
