Ford patents strong axle with hub motors for EVs

Ford has filed a patent utility for strong axles with built-in hub motors, hinting at an excessively other roughly EV powertrain from the Blue Oval.

As a substitute of permitting wheels to transport up and down in my view, as in impartial suspension techniques, strong axles pivot when transferring over asymmetric surfaces. That suggests they have got been basically relegated to pickup vehicles, however Ford’s patent utility, filed with america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) Feb. 9, displays how they could stick round within the EV generation.

Ford patent image showing a solid axle with EV hub motors

Ford patent symbol appearing a strong axle with EV hub motors

The record main points including hub-motor assemblies to a strong axle, with one meeting according to wheel to permit all-wheel pressure. By contrast to the inboard-mounted motors in most present EVs, those assemblies transfer the motors out to the wheel hubs, theoretically liberating up more room throughout the car’s footprint.

Hub motors are not a brand new thought. Slovenian corporate Elaphe is supplying them for one of the vital maximum eagerly expected super-efficiency automobiles—together with the Aptera three-wheeler and the solar-assisted Lightyear 0. Previous this yr, Elaphe additionally introduced a partnership with McLaren to incorporate the latter’s racing tech into long run hub-motor powertrains.

Ford patent image showing a solid axle with EV hub motors

Ford patent symbol appearing a strong axle with EV hub motors

Alternatively, Ford in the past nixed in-wheel motors for the F-150 Lightning, owing to considerations that the motors could be extra uncovered to wreck than in a standard inboard positioning, and would possibly intrude with the friction brakes, which even an electrical truck makes use of often when towing. The hub design additionally will increase unsprung mass, making tuning for experience high quality and dealing with harder.

In spite of those attainable problems, Lordstown Motors selected Elaphe-licensed hub motors for its Staying power pickup truck, which in the end began delivery in overdue 2022 after a number of delays. The Staying power is aimed extra narrowly at industrial fleets than the Lightning, which Ford is pitching to each industrial and retail consumers. However this patent packages hints that Ford is open to attempting a identical motor setup on long run EVs.

Supply Via https://www.motorauthority.com/information/1138753_ford-solid-axle-with-hub-motors-ev-patent