Uni Wheel 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 doing so, Hyundai and Kia have designed a completely new structure for the drive system.
Uni Wheel opens new possibilities and enables a flat-floor configuration by moving an EV’s reduction gear inside the wheel hub, locating a compact individual motor close to each wheel, reducing the length of the drive shafts.
The system frees up significantly more interior space compared with conventional drive systems, enabling future mobility products optimized for various applications, such as Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs).
Advancing future mobility through new technology
Recent advances in electrification, autonomous driving and connectivity technologies are transforming mobility products into living spaces. 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.
Uni Wheel 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 this arrangement. Power generated by the motor is transmitted to the sun gear, which in turn engages the pinion gears to rotate the ring gear. This is connected to the wheel to drive the vehicle.
Uni Wheel’s pinion gears are connected to each other to form two linkages, and this multi-link mechanism enables Uni Wheel’s multi-axis movement to allow a wide range of suspension articulation.
When combined with electronic air suspension that can adjust ride height according to the driving situation, this can be increased to stabilize the vehicle on rough roads, or decreased for high-speed driving to improve power and stability.
By moving the reduction gear to the wheel hub, Uni Wheel’s high reduction ratio delivers a significant torque output and allows for a more compact electric motor. With independent control of up to four efficient electric drive units, Uni Wheel also allows for unprecedented levels of torque vectoring to boost dynamic ability and deliver high levels of steering and driving stability.
More efficiency, more interior space
The Uni Wheel concept frees up space within a vehicle that was previously unavailable to users. By relocating many components of the drive system to the wheel hub and downsizing the electric motor with no impact on performance, the extra space made available within the vehicle body can be utilized as additional cargo room, such as a larger trunk or a "frunk".
It’s also possible to move away from conventional seating arrangements designed around the driver, creating new interior layouts and designs for the era of fully autonomous driving. Utilizing this space to improve battery capacity can also improve driving range, meaning users can achieve the range of a large EV without the physical size of the vehicle growing.
The developments Uni Wheel allows will also significantly increase passenger space. EV batteries are conventionally located low down in a vehicle’s body, which requires a raised ride height, often reducing passenger space by the volume of the battery. However, Uni Wheel optimizes battery packaging, with the loss of passenger space minimized.
This will be a valuable feature for PBVs, which need to maximize interior space by offering a low, flat-floor design. The flat-floor platform enabled by Uni Wheel allows for strong flexibility and scalability when it comes to PBVs, enabling the design of various body types depending on the intended use case.
Uni Wheel is highly flexible and
easily adaptable to all types of EVs, including regular passenger and
high-performance EVs, as the system can implement the same powertrain
and reduction gear functions required for conventional EVs.
In
addition to vehicles of various sizes, Uni Wheel can also be applied to
other types of mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, bicycles and
delivery robots. Depending on the requirements of these different forms
of mobility, Uni Wheel can be scaled to work with wheel sizes as small
as 4-inch and as large as 25-inch or more. In addition, Uni Wheel’s
ability to move the rotation axis of the wheel makes it possible to
create forms of personal mobility that can climb stairs as smoothly as
an escalator.
Hyundai and Kia are continuously verifying the
stability, efficiency, and durability of Uni Wheel through various tests
to perfect its development and will continue efforts to improve its
efficiency by adjusting the reduction gear ratio, and upgrading the
lubrication and cooling system.
Hyundai and Kia have applied for
and registered eight patents related to Uni Wheel in South Korea as well
as the United States and Europe.
