PML, a British engineering firm, has built an electric-powered Mini that has four electric motors, one for each wheel. Each motor produces 160 bhp, for a total of 640 bhp! PML claims a 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph for the AWD eco-monster!
Also, there are no mechanical brakes, as all the braking is done via the wheel-mounted electric motors.
Snippet: Each wheel develops 160bhp - 640bhp in total...
The original Mini One develops less than 100bhp with an engine that weighs nearly double the weight of the four electric wheels! Apart from wheel bearings there are no wearing parts in the electric wheels; this means the horsepower stays for the life of the vehicle - and beyond.
Snippet: 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.
Snippet: 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.
ateixeira says:
06:57 AM, 08/31/06
And this subcompact can be yours for what, probably $150,000? ;-)
And there would be too much unsprung weight for this to truly perform the way it should.
rsholland says:
08:04 AM, 08/31/06
Unsprung weight? I dunno about that. There are no (traditional brakes), and that's all unsprung weight that is saved. It may not be that much heavier.
Also I'm not certain that these motors have to be mounted as part of the axle/suspension system? Perhaps they could be mounted directly to the chassis?
Cost? Who knows? I don't see why it would have to cost $150K though.
mercedesman1 says:
09:19 AM, 08/31/06
I kinda think this is BS but that would be sweet...
autoboy16 says:
01:27 PM, 08/31/06
"Perhaps they could be mounted directly to the chassis?"
They most likely are. Thats good for them and bad for us. Imagine if they are run-flats and u get a flat? i'm guessing that along with the $120 tire labor will be say... $210 if on the chassis. so about $120x4/wheel and $210+ for labor?? So thats about 700 to get a new set of wheels...
At least the need for brakes, gas, and oil will be dismal...
-Cj☺
ateixeira says:
08:26 AM, 09/ 1/06
From the photo, the motor appears to fit inside the wheel. You can see the yellow part inside the rims, that also throw off the offset (a lot). That doesn't look light to me....
rsholland says:
09:57 AM, 09/ 1/06
It's in the wheel, as that's what the link says. I'm just saying that "maybe" it could be mounted to the chassis instead.
I'm sure wheel offset andthe motor weight have been taken into consideration by the engineers.
frontier2k7 says:
08:28 AM, 09/ 3/06
From the pic I can't tell if it has bicycle tires or some nice fat tires for good road contact.