SylviaWheel hubs are the most critical part of a vehicle’s wheel system. However, like all other mechanisms, wheel hubs have also received evolution. Nowadays, a compound called hub motors is integrated into them.
The name of the motor is pretty self-explanatory, but here is a simplistic definition of what exactly it is. An electric hub motor is an independent motor located inside the wheel hub of every wheel. It means a vehicle using hub motors will have four motors operating. But does installing multiple motors increase the vehicle’s mass and fuel consumption?
Hub motors first made their appearance in 1880. A Viennese automobile company invented the first hybrid car, which operated on a gas engine and four hub motors. Let’s see how a hub motor affects the car’s overall performance and whether it is worthy of the current hype.
Which Kinds of Vehicles Use Hub Motors?
Hub motors are primarily brushless, so they are used in electric vehicles like electric trucks, motorcycles, cars, etc. Initially, these motors were used in small cars, but they are now influencing heavy-duty and off-road vehicles. It is important to note that hub motors are not installed in conventional fuel-powered automobiles due to their incompatibility with the engines.
Reasons Why Hub Motors Are Becoming the Next Market Trend in Automobile Industry
Electric vehicles entered the consumer market far before the hub motors. But these motors only differed in their power source, electric instead of fuel. Here are some aspects present in hub motors that make them superior to classic electric-powered ones.
Structure Compactness
The conventional electric motors in automobiles required the same complicated shaft and component arrangement, which didn’t reduce the overall vehicle size.
However, hub motors are far superior as they don’t need integration with the shaft to move the tires. Instead, they drive each tire independently, simplifying its overall structure.
Variety Of Driving Modes
Off-road vehicles require more customized driving modes, which conventional engines can not deliver. Since each wheel has its hub motor, you can operate each (wheel) separately.
It means hub motors allow differential steering, which is valuable for vehicles operating in particular conditions. You can easily switch between front-wheel, rear-wheel, or four-wheel drive. Also, you can set the reverse drive mode for one wheel and a traction drive for the other. However, differential steering causes more wear on the vehicle.
Adaptable
Hub motors are easier to install as compared to traditional motors. These motors are easily compatible with modern-day engines, so you’ll require fewer installation efforts than traditional ones.
Efficient
Hub motors operate on magnetic technology; the components are painted with insulating films, which prevent heat dissipation. Due to the decreased heat dissipation, hub motors don’t require dedicated cooling mechanisms, so the overall system becomes efficient. Also, the absence of complicated systems makes them less noisy. Electric hub motors construct eco-friendly vehicles as there are no emissions compared to traditional ones.
Conclusion
Wheel hub motors have revolutionized the automobile industry. Electric motors have been available for a long time but were only an electric-powered version of traditional engines. Hub motors are superior in many aspects.
Firstly, they are located within the wheel hubs, which allow you to get a more customized driving experience. Automobiles using hub motors are efficient, eco-friendly, straightforward, and lightweight. Also, they are compatible with most modern-day engines, so they are useable for making more personalized vehicles. Hub motors use magnetic technology, which uses fewer copper windings, so they also reduce the overall consumption of the metal.