An older Chinese compact sedan localized in Russia last fall as the Evolute i-Pro became a test lab for Dongfeng Motor Corporation ( DFM): She is testing advanced technologies on it, namely wheel motors and solid-state batteries, with the intention of mass-producing them.
Let's start with motor wheels: they were developed for the Dongfeng Aeolus E70 by the British company Protean Electric, based in Farnham (Surrey), but also having two branches in China — in Shanghai and Tianjin. This company was founded in 2008, since then it has filed more than two hundred patents for its motor wheels. In 2019, Protean Electric was taken over by the infamous «duo» NEVS/Evergrande, and in 2021 was taken over by another British startup, Bedeo. The latter is also engaged in electric power plants, but mainly in the applied sense (electrifies commercial vehicles and special equipment), while Protean is more interested in innovation, its motor-wheels have not yet received mass distribution, but, perhaps, they will receive it thanks to cooperation with DFM.
Voyah Chasing Light with Protean wheel motors on rear axle
According to a recent press release from Protean, DFM certified the wheel-powered Aeolus E70 sedan in China back in December (pictured above), and its public premiere took place in March. The presentation also showed the Voyah Chasing Light premium electric sedan with Protean motor wheels, but this is still a single demo sample, while the Aeolus E70 with motor wheels was released in a limited edition (the exact figure was not specified) and went for trial operation to landfills and roads common use. In case of successful completion of the tests, DFM may decide on the industrial implementation of motor-wheels in its electric vehicles.
wheel motor Pd18
The Aeolus E70 has two Pd18 model wheel motors on the rear axle, each delivering a maximum of 78kW (106hp) and 1250Nm. The regular 150-horsepower electric motor on the front axle has been retained, and thus the Aeolus E70 now has three motors, and the rear ones can be controlled independently of each other, that is, you can set the thrust vector and literally make the electric car take turns like on rails. But the point of using motor-wheels is not only this: they are very compact and convenient in terms of layout (you can give more space for the battery) and contain fewer parts than a traditional «axial» electric drive (if only because the motor-wheels do not need an intermediate gear). The main disadvantage, however, is also well known — large unsprung masses, each Pd18 motor assembly weighs 36 kg plus bearing, rim, brake and wires.
Also in December, DFM certified an experimental batch of 50 Aeolus E70 sedans equipped with experimental solid-state batteries — the Chinese corporation has been developing them since 2018, mass production, if successful, should begin in 2024, such batteries will provide a mileage of 1000 km or more on a single charge, as well as significantly reduce charging time. Aeolus E70 sedans equipped with solid-state batteries are also now driving on Chinese roads, that is, they are being tested.
Even if everything goes well and motor-wheels along with solid-state batteries go into mass production, it is unlikely that the Aeolus E70 intended for commercial implementation will receive them — rather the latest DFM models, but the Russian Evolute i-Pro definitely did not interfere with the four-wheel drive would be — our roads are slippery in winter, and accelerating dynamics with three motors will be more fun.
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