Interesting concept here from Volkswagen who is partnering up with a company called Protean for electric motors housed inside wheels. This means the motors would have to be fairly compact but it would essentially allow for a car with four small electric motors each of which powers its own feel for an all wheel driven electric drivetrain. Protean specializes in producing such motors and has already done work with Brabus.

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So how much power do these motors develop? 100 horsepower each. Yes, basic math results in 400 horsepower. Certainly not bad at all although the weight penalty is 75 pounds per motor. The motors also require wheels at least 18 inches in diameter.

This certainly is an interesting idea and it would be fun to see if this setup could be retrofitted to cars that already exist making for the possibility of doing a hybrid electric assisted system on just about anything. Protean is aiming for 2014 production which seems optimistic. If anything can make it happen though it's most likely VW's pocketbook.

Features of Protean’s in-wheel motors include:

  • 75 kW (100 hp) peak power
  • Highest torque density of any of today’s leading electric drive systems
  • Mass of only 34 kg (75 lbs.) per motor
  • Power and control electronics packaged inside the motor
  • Superior regenerative braking capabilities, which allow up to 85 percent of the available kinetic energy to be recovered during braking
  • Fits within a conventional 18” road wheel

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