Ford and Schaeffler demonstrated Fiesta based eWheelDrive car

Ford Motor Company and Schaeffler has demonstrated the Fiesta based eWheelDrive car, a driveable research vehicle that could lead to improvements in urban mobility and parking by making possible smaller, more agile cars. The Fiesta eWheelDrive car is powered by independent electric motors in each of the rear wheels. The eWheelDrive technology provides more space under the bonnet, traditionally occupied by the engine and transmission, and in all-electric cars by a central motor. This technology leads the manufacturers to innovate new measures to develop smaller cars. It could help in the future to develop a four person car that only requires the space of a two-person car today. The eWheelDrive Steering system will further reduces the parking problems, as that could enable vehicles to move sideways into parking spaces. This could potentially be the right way to tackle the future as cities become more populated and congested.

Pim Van Der Jagt, Ford's director of Research and Advanced Engineering in Europe said that," This is an exciting project to work on with Schaeffler because it potentially opens new options for the development of zero emission vehicles with very efficient packaging and exceptional maneuverability”. He further added,"Looking forward, we have the opportunity to scope out the vehicle’s capabilities and how we might overcome some of the challenges presented by implementing the technology.”

With in-wheel motors, the components required in Fiesta based eWheelDrive car for drive, deceleration and driver assistance technologies are fitted in an integrated wheel hub drive, including the electric motor, braking and cooling systems. Peter Gutzmer, chief technical officer, Schaeffler said that " This highly integrated wheel-hub drive makes it possible to rethink the city car without restrictions, and could be a key factor in new vehicle concepts and automobile platforms in the future”.

Ford join hands with Schaeffler, the leading German-based automotive component manufacturer and supplier, to research on the potential for future vehicles that also could offer zero emissions, and more space for features such as additional protection zones. The global populations are increasing day-by-day, Manufacturers and industry experts believes that the In-wheel electric motors would be the potentially the important future technology enabler for city cars. It is expected that by 2050, the population of city based people globally will have increased from 3.4 billion to 6.4 billion*, and the number of cars worldwide will become four times.

“We face challenges that will have to be addressed through time, thought and investment,” said Sheryl Connelly, Ford’s global trends and futuring manager. “It is by starting to look at how we might meet those challenges through research projects such as eWheelDrive, that we ensure that we embrace a future of choice and not a future of constraint.”

Ford will continue to manufacture such future based vehicle, and will next join hands with Schaeffler, Continental, RWTH Aachen and the University of Applied Sciences, Regensburg, on project MEHREN (Multimotor Electric Vehicle with Highest Room and Energy Efficiency) to develop two new driveable vehicles by 2015. The project aims to increase the integration of in-wheel motors in a car and will look at vehicle dynamics control, braking, stability and the fun-to-drive factor.

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