JBD

Electric cars have always been a favorite of mine, and I've been waiting for somebody to bring to market the idea most famously used in the lunar buggy - build the motors into the wheels.

Well, the Frogs have done it, and have even gone several steps beyond that as well. Not only does each wheel include the motor, it includes a dynamic brake (non-friction) as well as a caliper brake (mechanical) and an active electric suspension as well.

So the only component of the drive system contained in the body of the car is the battery. The link includes a short video of the prototype.

Advantages:

• No gas, engine, tranny, drive shaft, exhaust, or suspension in the body.
• No tune-ups, oil changes, coolant, tranny fluid, power steering, power brakes, or any other fluid systems to fail, leak, rot, contaminate or pollute.
  
• One wheel dies, you still have 3 to get you where you need to go. I wouldn't be surprised if it could still go on just one wheel in a pinch. You could also program to use just 2 wheels for economy or overdrive at speed.
  
• Fixing the bad wheel is simply a matter of swapping it out.
• Independent-drive, independent suspension all-wheel drive full-time - the ultimate in traction and handling.
• Can independently customize for different driving conditions through software - comfort, speed, performance, economy, etc.

• Kiss a curb too hard and you're looking at a $5,000 wheel swap-out.
• It's from France.
• The curse of all electric cars - batteries
  

Posted by: JBD at 01:45 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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