Siemens VDO shows off eCorner motor-in-hub concept

We've seen various implementations of all these assorted next-gen car technologies that Siemens got ahold of for their new eCorner system, but they've managed to squeeze them all into a single wheel, creating quite an interesting system for use with fuel cell or hybrid cars. First off, there's an electronic motor integrated into the wheel hub, allowing for more efficient power use and independent rotation from the rest of the car. Next up is an active suspension system and Siemens' very own electronic wedge brake (EWB). Finally, the independent steer-by-wire function built into the wheel allows for some very interesting maneuverability. Siemens expect cars that would use such functionality to be common in 15 years or so, but we hope we don't have to wait that long for all the fun and power savings this system promises.

[Via Autoblog]

[V8v @ Aug 12th 2006 4:25PM]

Guess this sort of spells the end of "drifting" for annoying Gen-Xers.

[Matt @ Aug 12th 2006 4:57PM]

Seems to me that GM has had similar technology in the "skateboard chassis" prototypes of their fuel-cell-based vehicles for quite some time now. Each wheel has its own independent, electric motor, electronic braking, steer-by-wire, etc. Should be coming pretty soon too...

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/400_fcv/index.html

[Big Sam @ Aug 12th 2006 5:08PM]

V8v,
Gen-X? I'd think we would be past Gen-Z by now.

[toodaloo @ Aug 12th 2006 5:53PM]

I didn't know those folks in Volvos drifted.

[boomhauer @ Aug 12th 2006 6:36PM]

hmm, seems like a lot of unsprung weight tho?

[Rubbermaid @ Aug 12th 2006 8:15PM]

Though how the hell would you change a flat? I imagine the tires would weight a lot. I suppose if they're run-flat you drive to a garage where they charge you $500 or so...

Cool, though.

[mcspacebar @ Aug 12th 2006 11:16PM]

the stuff is in the wheel , not the tire silly dumbass...

[LiveItNerd @ Aug 13th 2006 12:05AM]

to elaborate on 'mcspacebar's comments, from the drawings it would appear that the wheel hub contains the motor and the tyre is bolted to the outsite of the wheel hub/motor. Not a remarkably different design of type from what we have now just different to hold the motor and brakes. This would make the type just as easy to change and just as light as current cars.

I'd love to see this in cars sooner rather than later. Anything that gets rid of the use of petrol/gas is a great idea.

LiveItNerd.

[flash-ds @ Aug 13th 2006 3:06AM]

The key is "independent rotation" - what if one on the motors brakes down / locks up / start malfunctioning. The car goes spinning around.

[SR @ Aug 13th 2006 5:30AM]

Doesn't look good for unsprung weight.

[GanSan @ Aug 13th 2006 5:54AM]

Most of the new cars use throttle-by-wire and a lot of them have problems, mainly slow response time... if the steer-by-wire systems are made too sloppy steering the car in the correct direction will be an adventure if you had to do it quickly. Also I've seen some cars with thottle-by-wire just stop responding intermittently, or go full throttle and stay there. Think about the problems you may encouter with steering.

[ed @ Aug 13th 2006 6:43AM]

this is not new tech...it was tried in the 20's or 30's but the unsuspended weight of the wheels made the handling difficult..(imagine the force generated by spinning all that weight)...maybe they are allowing for that with some new suspension method??

[Ed @ Aug 13th 2006 7:24AM]

Looks gimicky to me: anyone know what the actual losses are in the final stage of the drive train? Matching problems are likely I'd have thought- leading to overspecification of the motor and worse lossess under most operation. The unsprung weight must be higher, and in addition the travel of the suspension looks too small!
No thanks!

[Gil @ Aug 13th 2006 9:23AM]

Oh jeez. Yes guys... I'm certain SIEMENS who has more than 100 years of experience and incredible budgets couldn't think of and solve the problems thought up by a bunch of guys posting in the comments section of a weblog from their basements.

And before you start giving the "corporations do everthing for profit" reply stop and think a little. Siemens VDO doesn't make cars but car parts. Their customers are car companies that have even bigger R&D departments that recheck these designs and only then build it into a car that reaches the public. So if there are any flaws in this tech Siemens will simply not be able to sell it to manufacturers.

[neXus @ Aug 13th 2006 5:16PM]

All I can say about this technology is: Gimme gimme gimme!!!

[mitzuki @ Aug 13th 2006 6:13PM]

right !

and one more thing ... throttle-by-wire is used on formula 1 since almost 10 years already with success !!!


guys open your mind, tne world work to move with or without you

[Smartue @ Aug 13th 2006 6:59PM]

Ferdinand Porsche invented this style of automotive engingeering back in the 1920's.

[Doofus @ Aug 14th 2006 1:35AM]

Ahh porsche strikes first...again. Ferdinand Porsche(yes father of the vw bug) invented it first and it still hasn't flown after all these years. makes you not ask yourself why :)

[joshfsho @ Aug 14th 2006 6:00AM]

that is why the porsche owns... :)

seriously i just visited the mercedes museum in stuggart and theyve got plenty of tech coming out similar to this...

[kaybee @ Aug 14th 2006 8:18AM]

"Oh jeez. Yes guys... I'm certain SIEMENS who has more than 100 years of experience and incredible budgets couldn't think of and solve the problems thought up by a bunch of guys posting in the comments section of a weblog from their basements."...Thank you, Gil.

[Q @ Aug 14th 2006 11:13AM]

Siemens LOL

S - E - M - E - N - S

[joe @ Aug 14th 2006 11:19AM]

i, for one, welcome our self-driving and steer-by-wire robot overlords

[Evan @ Aug 14th 2006 4:41PM]

2" of suspension travel? Must be a joke if they seriously think that will ever fly. Or maybe the FutureWorld™ roads will be as smooth as glass...

[drew @ Aug 16th 2006 8:52AM]

from the picture it appears that the tyre rotates around the hub assembly (which appears to contain the suspension and motor) - if this were the case then technically all these "unsprung weight" comments would be null.

[Scorpious @ Oct 16th 2006 10:33AM]

Apparently 90% of Engadget readers can't identify a SPRING... which is plainly visible in the diagram. "Unsprung weight"? Since when does the statement "Next up is an active suspension system" mean "unsprung weight"??? Also, to whoever made the comment about the car spinning if one of the wheels locked up: How is that in any way different from a wheel bearing locking up?

And did anybody stop to think that maybe, just maybe, the technology to make this work wasn't available in the 20's? :p

[Josef Winfried Grüter @ Mar 11th 2007 3:14PM]

Has anybody thought through the full driving components from Fuel to electricty to drive in the wheel. What is the final efficiency from eg synthetic gasoline or Ethanol to mechanical energy or in other words how much gasoline equivalent would under normal user conditions a car with such an allwheel electric driven concept consume. Is there anybody who produces already cars based on this concept? The concept looks to me very convincing but quite often there is a long way from a concept to a real car.