Ferrari has filed a patent software for in-wheel electrical motors. Whereas such expertise is not knew, Ferrari in its patent claims to have a extra simplified design.
The patent software was first noticed by CarBuzz and filed with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Apr. 21, and printed on Nov. 2. In it, Ferrari explains that in-wheel motors liberate inside house and in addition cast off the necessity for gearboxes to switch energy from centerline-mounted motors to the wheels.
Nevertheless, Ferrari additionally notes that in-wheel motors can improve the variety of components wanted in a wheel meeting, which provides value and complexity. The automaker’s resolution is to combine motor and wheel parts as a lot as attainable.
As described within the software, Ferrari’s design relies round a brushless everlasting magnet synchronous AC motor. This kind of motor has a stator at its heart, surrounded by a rotor that is spun by magnetic forces. Ferrari proposes making the stator a part of the wheel hub and attaching the rotor to the rim, which might then spin together with the rotor.
Ferrari in-wheel motor patent picture
Along with complexity, one other potential challenge with in-wheel motors is the added unsprung weight that comes from attaching a motor to the wheel meeting. This may have an effect on trip high quality and dealing with, however Ferrari claims within the software that “an acceptable suspension scheme” can mitigate any points.
A number of firms have experimented with in-wheel motors, together with Lordstown Motors. The Lordstown Endurance pickup truck was briefly manufactured utilizing in-wheel motors licensed from Slovenian agency Elaphe. Nevertheless, Lordstown filed for chapter after just some vehicles have been made.
At CES 2023, McLaren and Elaphe additionally introduced plans to marry the previous’s racing tech with the latter’s in-wheel motors. Rumors of an electrical McLaren supercar have been circulating for years, however the firm’s CEO has mentioned the tech for such a automotive will not be prepared till 2030.