Electric Vehicles: General topics

I guess I'll just post there his since there's been a bit of Car Play chit-chat.

We got a message from the daughter yesterday via Car Play (in the Jeep) and it read it like ...

"T said 'its good' and posted a photo of a bowl of rice and a fork"
 
I was hearing about a motor that sounded absurd, so I looked around and found that there are some pretty interesting designs.

The main thing is "axial flux", which can be more efficient than traditional designs. Most vehicles use radial flux, in which the coils wrap around the rotor. Axial flux is where the coils face the rotor from the side. One of the German companies say they have developed a HP axial flux motor that can produce 200W power in a 7kg package, suitable for use as a wheel motor.

Imagine an AWD vehicle with four of these motors – nearly a thousand horsepower in a more efficient drive system (no more than 1 gear) that would weigh less than a hundred pounds. Add solid state batteries and you have something that erases basically any advantage an ICE would have.

I wish that society would remain stable long enough for this to happen, but am not terribly optimistic.
 
Apparently Wired did a write up about this space about a year ago as it seems some car makers have already been using them? https://www.wired.com/story/yasa-motors-mercedes-axial-flux-2024/

One thing that jumped out to me is that moving these things into the wheels also means potentially removing the brake rotors entirely. What would it take to hold a car in place on a hill at a stop doing this I wonder? Can you still at least fit a parking brake?
 
Cmaier said:
Nikola Tesla figured axial flux motors out a very long time ago.
Click to expand...

AIUI, axial flux has been used in small motors all along. HDD motors are one example. Scaling them up has been the challenge – or maybe vehicle design has just been too staid all these years.

Nycturne said:
One thing that jumped out to me is that moving these things into the wheels also means potentially removing the brake rotors entirely. What would it take to hold a car in place on a hill at a stop doing this I wonder? Can you still at least fit a parking brake?
Click to expand...
You could implement a band or clamp type brake, as the stator and rotor are side-by-side. Or, the rotor could have a shaft extending through the stator that could use a clamp or clutch type lockdown.

One complaint is that wheel motors are unsprung mass. But they do not actually have to be. A simple transfer gear from the motor to the wheel could allow the motor to float a little, to reduce shock damage to the motor and provide a step-down for the motor.

Issues are solvable.
 
Ya'll see the new Escalade IQ?

intro-1741980868.webp


www.jalopnik.com

2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Is All About Big Numbers - Jalopnik

The Escalade IQ is a far better application of GM's Ultium EV platform than its siblings the Chevy Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV
www.jalopnik.com www.jalopnik.com
 
Cmaier said:
no carplay, right? screw GM.
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Lot more reasons to screw GM other than that. Like them turning over driver data to Lexis/Nexus who then sold it it to insurance companies. Who then used the data to raise rates on people.

They have said they stopped the practice but they still did it.
 
Citysnaps said:
Any opinions here?
Click to expand...


The execution looks like a nice improvement vs. their current crop of vehicles. I recall the prototype, they did a good job of bringing the design into a production version.

Mercedes needs this, I saw an article that BMW sold 20,000 more EVs (in '24) than Mercedes and Audi combined. We're not really "Mercedes people", just never had much interest in the brand.

[edit]

Here's that BMW sales article :)

 
Last edited:
DT said:
The execution looks like a nice improvement vs. their current crop of vehicles. I recall the prototype, they did a good job of bringing the design into a production version.

Mercedes needs this, I saw an article that BMW sold 20,000 more EVs (in '24) than Mercedes and Audi combined. We're not really "Mercedes people", just never had much interest in the brand.

[edit]

Here's that BMW sales article :)

Click to expand...
Yeah it really helps that the gas powered versions look just like the EV versions (or the other way around if that helps). Folks want EVs that don't stand out (for the most part).

I'm really curious to see when the M division makes EV versions of their M series (not the M-Sport stuff they are currently doing). Though I am not excited about the pricing (the current M3 is like 2 times the cost of the Model 3 Performance, for not that much more performance once you throw some PS4S on the Tesla). AMG has been electrifying their stuff, but no pure EV since the SLS Electric Drive they only made 9 of. I hear that the Electric GT should be out this year sounds like they are shooting for the Taycan Turbo GT, no word on a proper C class version yet.
 
To the EU folk, does the ID line come with 5 door Kessy for you guys? I can't believe 13 years later VW still only does Kessy on the front doors and rear hatch.
 

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