Industrial giant Continental has partnered with startup DeepDrive to come up with a compact twin-rotor electric motor. Together with the built-in drum brake, it can be placed directly on the wheel hub.
Continental announced cooperation with the interesting German start-up DeepDrive. The latter deals with the production of electric motors, which are smaller, lighter, more efficient and less demanding on raw materials compared to the competition. The German industrial colossus was particularly interested in the patented electric unit with two rotors, which, according to Felix Poernbacher, co-founder of DeepDrive, will cause a revolution in electromobility.
The new electric drive can function as a separate traction unit, or thanks to its very compact dimensions, it can be installed directly on the bike. And it is at this moment that Continental steps in, which can add a drum brake system to the engine itself. Although it has receded from fame in recent years, the arrival of zero-emission cars is bringing it back to prominence.
The technology intended primarily for small and cheap cars is in fact less user- and service-intensive for electric cars combining a classic braking system with recuperation. This is also why drum brakes on the rear axle can be found on a whole constellation of electric models from the Volkswagen concern, including the Škoda Enyaq.
The integration of drive and brake into one unit will bring, among other things, lower production costs, less space requirements and higher efficiency (up to 20 percent, according to Continental representatives). Thanks to the electric motor located directly in the wheel, there is no need for a heavy drive shaft, differential, gearbox and perhaps even cooling the electric motor. On the other hand, the unsprung mass will increase, which theoretically can be reflected in worse travel comfort.
Continental will bring a technological tradition to the joint partnership, thanks to which we will soon see the combined system in series production. However, the plans of the two German companies do not end with the mere connection of the electric motor with the brake system. Suspension components, such as Continental’s air suspension system, could also be added to the module in later stages.
2023-10-16 14:55:00
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