Active Wheel is a Michelin-developed tire which incorporates an electric motor and suspension It was presented at Challenge Bibendum 2004's edition on the Hy-Light concept car and showcased during Paris Motor Show "Mondial de l'automobile"in 2008 both on the Venturi Volage electric sports car and on the Heuliez Will.
Like other in-wheel motors, the ActiveWheel design provides direct power delivery of approximately 30 kW (40 hp), as well as regenerative braking. In addition, it replaces a mechanical suspension with an active suspension driven by an in-wheel electrical suspension motor that controls torque distribution, traction, turning maneuvers, pitch, roll and suspension damping for that wheel. However, the effects of shocks, water and snow to such an "in-wheel" design have not been precisely studied.
Siemens VDO, developing a similar concept called eCorner, was purchased by Continental in 2007.
Famous quotes containing the words active and/or wheel:
“The time passes so quickly during these full and active middle years that most people arrive at the end of middle age and the beginning of later maturity with surprise and a sense of having finished the journey while they were still preparing to commence it.”
—Robert Havighurst (20th century)
“The wheel and the brake have different duties, but also one in common: to hurt one another.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)