Michelin has been experimenting with this idea for several years… and now at the 2008 Paris Auto Show, two obscure concepts from Heuliez and Venturi show that Active Wheel Technology could be a serious future concept!The Venturi VolageEssentially the Active Wheel Technology is designed for battery or fuel-cell powered electric vehicles and localizes the entire suspension - springs, dampers, geometry and all - plus an electric-drive motor and of course the brakes inside the envelope of the wheel, freeing all sorts of space for hauling passengers and luggage. The system also allows torque from the motors to be electronically controlled for each individual wheel independently. The results are similar to the effects of an active differential, allowing a vehicle with Active Wheel technology to make much faster turns in poor conditions than traditional shaft-driven vehicles.
All-in-one-solution: The Active Wheel TechnologyThe Venturi Volage takes this electric sports car concept and really runs with it — the all carbon-fiber car is equipped with the first application we've seen of the Michelin Active Wheel, the compact unit using in-wheel electric drive motors is installed at all four corners with a suspension driven by a second set of e-motors. The Heuliez Will, on the other hand, shows that the Active Wheel Technology can be used in compact cars as well: The motors in each front wheel of the Heuliez Will concept can produce 30kW continuous, 60kW peak (40/80 hp).The Heuliez Will
Heuliez intends to produce the Will, which uses an Opel Agila body shell, in 2010 with a 20kW-hr battery pack good for a 93-mile range. The Monaco-based firm Venturi plans to enter limited production of the Volage in 2012.Images: Venturi, Heuliez, Michelin