Protean Electric – an in-wheel motor (IWM) technology company – has launched its ProteanDrive Generation 5 (Gen 5) IWM, designed for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and future transportation solutions.
The Gen 5 ProteanDrive Pd18 IWM includes a fully integrated inverter within an 18in wheel package, making it suitable for various automotive and mobility applications.
Production began in Q3 2023, with shipments dispatched to OEMs and mobility companies globally from Protean’s manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China. Earlier this year, Protean also received an International Automotive Task Force 16949 certification and the Pd18 has been granted R85 homologation.
The IWM has been designed, validated and manufactured to meet the highest automotive industry standards and can be configured for various wheel sizes, torque and power capabilities. It can provide both integrated and separate inverters, with 400V lead products available now and 800V products expected by the end of 2024.
Andrew Whitehead, CEO of Protean Electric, explained: “The availability of an industrialized Pd18 positions Protean Electric at the forefront of the market. This technology will allow vehicle manufacturers to adopt in-wheel motors at scale and at an affordable price, as they seek to differentiate their product offerings in an increasingly crowded electric vehicle market.”
The Pd18 is already being utilized by customers including Bedeo’s Reborn Electric retrofit solution and ConMet’s PreSet Plus eHub zero-emission refrigerated trailer solution.