Hyundai Develops EV Wheel With 90-Degree Turning

Hyundai Mobis has improved the maneuverability of electric vehicles by completing a working prototype that combines steering, braking, electric drive, and suspension hardware into a single wheel unit and gives vehicles the flexibility to maneuver around obstacles and crawl sideways in and out of the tightest parking spaces, Chris Weiss reported for New Atlas.

Photo Insert: Hyundai Mobis integrates the steering, drive, suspension, and braking components into the single e-Corner units.

“When it first announced the e-Corner Module in 2018, Hyundai Mobis said it planned to complete development by 2021. Mission accomplished, as it revealed the first fully developed working prototypes this week ahead of further testing and refinement. Critical to creating the working prototype was developing the unit necessary to control the multiple integrated functions,” Weiss reported.

The e-Corner essentially blows up the traditional construction of powertrain, drivetrain, and running gear, combining all accelerating, braking, suspension, and steering functions into single-wheeled units, placed at all four corners for a traditional four-wheel automobile.

Mechanical connections for these systems are eliminated by digital "by-wire" control, which frees up all kinds of flexibility in vehicle design and streamlines maintenance and repair, Weiss stressed.

The new e-Corner Modules feature enhanced rotation from what Hyundai originally envisioned, offering the full 90 degrees necessary for the vehicle to "crab walk" sideways and turn in place.

This capability will allow vehicles to drive through and park in much tighter spaces – and if Hyundai pairs the e-Corners with a set of articulated robot legs, we'll see just how capable vehicles can be on and off-road.

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