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| Tear-drop-dead-gorgeous:One of 16 made, the Talbot Largo T150-TSS (1937-1939) should be recreatedby 3D printers and the panels bolted onto generic roll cages of as many future cars as is possible. Because vehicles this beautiful can only help to make the world a better place. |
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| Let's hope future hub-wheel vehicles don't look like this... (Photo: Quikcpic) |
THE future is likely to see our grandchildren placing an order at
the 3D-print shop on the corner for the panels of a timeless classic, such as
this 1938 Talbot Lago.
They will then bolt the classic panels to a generic roll cage that
itself is bolted onto a battery floor, which will power four hub-wheeled
motors.
These in-wheel, or hub-wheeled, cars will have neither axles nor
dampers, and the racing-style roll cage with webbed seatbelts on deep bucket
seats will remove the need for air bags and other heavy and expensive
paraphanalia.
Our grandchildren will need that roll cage to meet racing specs,
because the massive amounts of immediate torque that electric motors generate
will enable the hub-wheeled cars of the future to pull G-forces in a corner that
would make an astronaut pass out.
This future came a few years closer at the Automechanika trade fair
for aftermarket devices, which ended in Frankfurt last week.
A compact, in-wheel electric- motor drive system won the top
Innovation Awards contest.
The wheel was built by NTN-SNR, a French company (formerly SNR
Roulements) which is a member of the Japan-based NTN group, which is one of the
world’s largest bearing makers.
NTN-SNR makes components such as drive shafts and bearings with
built-in sensors for conventional petrol and diesel-engined vehicles, but its
main thrust for the future is in the realm of electric vehicles.
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| Don't try to remember the name, NTN-SNR, but do remember their bolt-on hub-wheel motor, winner of the 2012 Autmechanika design award. (Photo Quickpic) |
The ability to control power to each wheel independently makes it
relatively easy to use the in-wheel motors as an innovative vehicle-stability
control system too.
Besides its in-wheel motors, the company makes a small, single
motor that is highly efficient, and it is developing next-generation
steer-by-wire systems that transmit steering-wheel movements using electric
signals.
NTN-SNR is also working on an electro-mechanical braking
system.
The NTN-SNR in-wheel power system was selected as the winner by a
panel of eight experts from a total of 117 entries, with 59 of the products
entered coming from Germany and 58 from 15 other nations.
NTN-SNR also won the Parts category, besides the overall award, and
there were eight other category winners. Innovation Awards has been part of the
programme at Automechanika Frankfurt since 1996.
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| Michelin's much more compact hub-wheel can pull enough G-forces in a corner enough to make an astronaut feel faint |
Earlier this year, tyre makers Michellin also revealed their latest
hub-wheeled motor. Gizmag journalist Laurent Masson drove it, and
reported: “… unlike any other vehicle, the wheel hubs are solidly fixed to the
car. The suspension is between the hub and the tyre, inside the wheel. The
complete suspension system fits there. The active element is an electric motor
sending power to compress a spring, and yes, it works in real time.
“I had a ride in the prototype. The Michelin engineer was hard on
the brakes, hard on the accelerator, but the car remained at a perfect level. It
makes you think that all the other cars are from the stone age. But you have to
get ready for this new technology.
“This is really something that will improve the technical design of
automobiles.”
• Systems:
Delphi of France for its Telematics system, which uses basic
wireless-communication technology that enables the aftermarket to “speak” to the
customer via a device installed in the vehicles.
The feature includes
vehicle diagnosis, breakdown service, service appointment reminder, vehicle
health monitoring and incident management.
• Tuning:
The Prins Direct LIquiMax System, which permits vehicles with direct
injection petrol engines to use much cheaper liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as a
single fuel (monovalent), or to be able to switch between petrol and LPG
(bivalent) for lowering fuel consumption and reducing emissions.
There is evidently no
loss of performance when running on LPG only.
It is suitable for the
aftermarket as a retro-fit product or for motor manufacturers as original
equipment.
• Repair
diagnostics: Volkswagen’s high-voltage testing module, which is essential
to ensure all cars in the e-Motion range are properly maintained.
All the testing
functions for e-vehicles are housed in a small, hand-held device.
• Accessories:
Steelmate, a Chinese company, won this award for its tyre-pressure
monitoring system, which uses sensors in special valve caps and has a monitor
that is pushed into the car’s cigar lighter, which means the system can be
installed in a few minutes.
• Original
equipment products and services: Robert Bosch, of Germany, working together
with Peugeot Citroën (PSA), has developed the world’s first hybrid system
working with diesel engines to achieve significant cuts in fuel consumption — up
to 25%.
The new Split Axle
Strong Hybrid System is a combination of an internal combustion engine and
electric rear-axle drive, and can be integrated into existing drive systems with
relatively little effort.
• Service
station and car wash: The Kärcher supplementary wheel cleaning programme
for self-service car-wash centres guides the customer through the washing
process, using a cleaning agent applied with a high-pressure gun.
The alkaline wheel
cleaner removes dirt without damaging the wheels or their coatings.
