Protean Electric has become the first company to develop and supply in-wheel motors (IWMs) to a mainstream original equipment manufacturer passenger car program.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E (T3E) project represents a significant milestone in the application of IWM technology, the company says, and highlights the potential of IWMs as a scalable solution for mainstream automotive use.
Protean Electric’s updated Pd18 solution delivers over 200kW directly to each rear wheel, which enabled the Renault 5 Turbo 3E to achieve 0–62 mph acceleration in under 3.5 seconds.
Andrew Whitehead, chief executive officer at Protean Electric, said, “We are thrilled to see Protean’s IWM technology being integrated into such an iconic vehicle as the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. This collaboration represents a significant milestone the future of vehicle electrification as it shows clearly IWM have no limits. We look forward to continuing our work with Renault and other OEMs as they seek to use IWM to deliver better electric vehicles for their customers.”
In related news, Orbis Electric recently introduced HaloDrive, an advanced axial flux motor-generator designed around a modular four-part architecture featuring an injection-molded plastic stator and a tunable gearset. Read the full story here