Manufacturers are still searching for the best possible way to produce electric vehicles, and it has spawned many a marque to come up with ingenious ways to explore this field.
Volkswagen and Chinese automotive giant FAW is exploring in-wheel electric motors, and has teamed up with Protean, specialists in this specific field. Protean has been developing in-wheel motors for several years and have clients like Brabus on its books.
Volkswagen and its Far East partner are working on rear-wheel drivetrain for a new electric Bora (Jetta) compact sedan. Each motor will produce 75 kW and will have the highest density of torque of any of today’s leading electric drive systems.
With the regenerative breaking energy being somewhat high, 85% of the vehicle’s kinetic energy will be collected during breaking.
FAW and Protean have been working on the project for some time. And with testing well underway, both companies aim to have bench testing, engineering calibration and on-site application support completed “within a year.”
There is currently no word as yet on whether VW South Africa plans on bringing such a model to local shores.
– Charlen Raymond
