Michelin presents Active Wheel system

The hoops were created from wood, horse and carriage style, that is, prior to Michelin’s wrapping halos of rubber around the wheels of our vehicles. That’s clearly a ground-breaker, and the French tire manufacturer has a lot of other innovative ideas to maintain its top place in the automobile technology.

The most current piece of ultra-modern kit rotating out of Michelin’s design department is recognized as the Active Wheel system. Two motors, one to power the car and another for the incorporated suspension system, rests inside the hub and permit the entire drivetrain to fit snuggly enclosed at each end.
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B7FAN - 12/4/2008 12:29:52 PM

+1 Boost

THEY TOOK THAT TECHNOLOGY FROM "BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT" THATS HOW BATMANS MOTORCYCLE IS RUNNING IN THAT MOVIE

CarCrazedinCali - 12/3/2008 11:48:17 AM

+1 Boost

What does it do???

Bmw8ter - 12/3/2008 9:30:36 PM

+2 Boost

What does it do? This change would revolutionize the auto industry. With in wheel electric motors, you could give a 4 cyl. the torque of a high end v6, and the fuel efficiency of a 3 cyl.; you could make just one set of wheels accelerate the car to retain fuel effciency; any car could be 4WD; no LSD or driveshaft or axle. Infact NO BRAKES. The motors can actually decelerate and stop the car as easily as ABS. Imagine ABS without all of the "pump, pump, pump" action to keep the car straight. There are numerous advantages.

E36er - 12/3/2008 12:12:55 PM

+3 Boost

Can you say Tron Light Cycle.

WorldofLuxury - 12/3/2008 6:35:28 PM

+3 Boost

I really hope this technology catches on.

The "car" has become so complicated that a lot of "it" seems a bit unnecessary. This idea, which has somewhat failed before, is just what we need the truly rethink the car. This is what might introduce real efficiency, power and handling, and comfort.

Guess why alternative fuel engines seem to be plagued with the same flaws as a conventional gasoline engine?

t_bone - 12/5/2008 10:31:02 AM

+1 Boost

It's just crazy what a game-changer this technology is. You could bolt a set of these to a rowboat and instantly have an amphibious supercar.

Not to mention it would reduce parts count by about 90%.