Hyundai and Kia, the two major South Korean automakers, have unveiled a potentially game-changing approach to the design of an electric vehicle’s drivetrain, known as the Universal Wheel Drive system, or “Uni Wheel” for short. This innovative system moves the main drive components to the wheel hub, creating additional space in a given vehicle’s interior.
Hyundai and Kia, the two major South Korean automakers, have unveiled a potentially game-changing approach to the design of an electric vehicle’s drivetrain, known as the Universal Wheel Drive system, or “Uni Wheel” for short. This innovative system moves the main drive components to the wheel hub, creating additional space in a given vehicle’s interior.
In traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, power is transmitted from the engine through the transmission and to the wheels via drive shafts and constant velocity (CV) joints. In electric vehicles (EVs), the engine and transmission are replaced by a motor and reduction gear, but the method of power transmission to the wheels remains the same.
The Uni Wheel system this design by moving an EV’s reduction gear inside the wheel hub, locating a compact individual motor close to each wheel, and reducing the length of the drive shafts. This new design frees up significantly more interior space compared with conventional drive systems.It uses a special planetary gear configuration consisting of a sun gear in the center, four pinion gears on each side, and a ring gear surrounding everything. Power generated by the motor is transmitted to the sun gear, which in turn engages the pinion gears to rotate the ring gear.
Hyundai and Kia’s focus on space utilization in future vehicle architectures will further boost customer value and provide owners with richer user experiences as a result. The Uni Wheel system is a functionally integrated wheel drive system that dramatically improves available space inside an electric vehicle (EV) by moving the main drive system components to the vacant space within the wheel hub. In a nutshell, the Uni-Wheel integrates an EV’s reduction gear (its transmission) inside the hollow part of the wheel.By consolidating constant velocity joints, drive shafts, and the decelerator into the wheel, which optimizes the vehicle’s structure, specifically designed for electric car platforms like E-GMP. This pioneering approach allows for greater flexibility in car design.
The introduction of the Uni Wheel system is a significant step forward in the evolution of electric vehicle design. It not only optimizes the vehicle’s structure but also opens up new possibilities for future mobility products optimized for various applications, such as Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs).
“We are pleased to showcase innovative ideas that could become game changers in the future mobility market,” said Jongsool Park, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Technology Development of Hyundai Motor Group. “We will perfect the technology so that customers can experience mobility in a completely different and new way.”
Recent advances in electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity technologies are transforming mobility products into living spaces. The Uni Wheel system is a testament to this transformation, offering a new structure for the drive system and paving the way for a new era of electric vehicle design.
Relevant articles:
– Hyundai, Kia’s ‘Uni Wheel’ drive system may revolutionize EVs – Electrek
– Hyundai Motor and Kia Unveil Paradigm-Shifting ‘Uni Wheel’ Drive System …
– Hyundai’s Uni Wheel System to Revolution Car Design
– Hyundai Says New Wheel Design Will Make EVs More Efficient And Spacious