Motor

Web exclusive

Why axial flux motors are opening up new possibilities for off-highway electrification

Increasingly close powertrain integration is well established in the passenger car sector, but for off-highway, construction, and commercial vehicles, the path to electrification presents a unique set of challenges, writes Peter Donaldson.

In Conversation

Jurij Kern redefines the car with in‑wheel motors and next‑gen EV architecture.

urij Kern has been on a mission with Elaphe for his entire career – and his work could soon revolutionise the architecture of the automobile. Will Gray finds out more Ever since the dawn of the time of the automobile, it has always had a relatively familiar look. However, the in-wheel motor revolution could be about to change all that – and Jurij Kern has been at the centre of this technology’s development ever since he graduated from university.

Grid

Improving magnetic performance in EV motors

Researchers in South Korea have developed a process for creating permanent magnets that reduces the need for heavy rare earth elements, writes Nick Flaherty. The process significantly advances the diffusion technology, which is essential for improving magnetic performance, and creates new possibilities for applying high-efficiency magnets in EV motors.

Web exclusive

Turntide’s semi‑integrated electric drive powers off‑highway electrification

Increasingly close powertrain integration is well established in the passenger car sector, but for off-highway, construction, and commercial vehicles, the path to electrification presents a unique set of challenges, writes Peter Donaldson.

Web exclusive

Porsche Cayenne Electric debuts with 850 kW powertrain and next‑gen 113 kWh battery system

Porsche has begun series production of the Cayenne Electric, marking the brand's entry into the premium electric SUV segment with in-house battery manufacturing capability in Slovakia. The Turbo variant delivers up to 850 kW and is built on a flexible line alongside combustion and hybrid Cayenne models at the Volkswagen Group plant in Bratislava, so the EV effectively becomes another derivative in an already high-volume programme rather than a standalone product.

Grid

Active Torque Vectoring

Alpine has developed a three-motor architecture that outperforms mechanical limited-slip differentials with extra-precise and quick torque control on each rear wheel, writes Nick Flaherty. The architecture has one motor at the front that powers the front axle and the two motors at the rear power one wheel each. Besides enabling all-wheel drive, this configuration allows the two rear motors to be controlled independently.

Focus on...

Motor testing

Repeated testing of electric motors brings many benefits. Nick Flaherty examines some of the procedures in common use. Electric motor tests conducted throughout the stages of an electric motor’s life cycle provide essential information about the motor’s overall health and provide engineers with a range of benefits.

Grid

In-wheel motor power boost

Orbis Electric has developed a modular in-wheel motor with the performance of a V8 engine, says Nick Flaherty. The HaloDrive is an axial motor that is designed to fit inside a wheel, reducing weight and improving range by up to 20%.

PS

There’s no such thing as a DC motor

Electromagnetically speaking, there’s no such thing as a DC motor. Bear with me. Many of us are used to making a sharp distinction among electric machines based on whether they need to be supplied with an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) to run.

Web exclusive

Electric drivetrains for agriculture fit existing machines with ZF eTRAC

ZF's eTRAC portfolio tackles a persistent problem in agricultural electrification: how to swap out combustion drivetrains without forcing OEMs to redesign every tractor-implement connection.

ONLINE PARTNERS