Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

autoblog.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 192 posts

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#21

Post by nradov »

IlPeach wrote: post #16
4death4 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two adults, two kids in car seats, and a dog. With that, even a mid-size SUV has no space for cargo. If you drive a sedan, you have to leave the dog at home.

That's why station wagons and vans exist. SUVs do not provide more space, they just occupy more (on top of being dangerous to others)

Large station wagons no longer exist in the US market. The biggest one remaining is probably the Volvo V90, which is a nice car but can barely fit 5 people, and if you put a dog in the back then there's no room for cargo. It's also too expensive for most families; several large SUVs are actually cheaper.

Minivans are a good option for some families. But they suck for towing trailers, and the ground clearance is terrible if you ever have to drive on a dirt road.

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#23

Post by doubleg72 »

nradov wrote: post #21
IlPeach wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's why station wagons and vans exist. SUVs do not provide more space, they just occupy more (on top of being dangerous to others)

Large station wagons no longer exist in the US market. The biggest one remaining is probably the Volvo V90, which is a nice car but can barely fit 5 people, and if you put a dog in the back then there's no room for cargo. It's also too expensive for most families; several large SUVs are actually cheaper. Minivans are a good option for some families. But they suck for towing trailers, and the ground clearance is terri…

Yeah really, like I’m gonna drive a minivan or station wagon out in the woods, or drive my four wheeler into the back when I need to take it somewhere.

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#24

Post by cnasc »

doubleg72 wrote: post #23
nradov wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Large station wagons no longer exist in the US market. The biggest one remaining is probably the Volvo V90, which is a nice car but can barely fit 5 people, and if you put a dog in the back then there's no room for cargo. It's also too expensive for most families; several large SUVs are actually cheaper. Minivans are a good option for some families. But they suck for towing trailers, and the ground clearance is terri…

Yeah really, like I’m gonna drive a minivan or station wagon out in the woods, or drive my four wheeler into the back when I need to take it somewhere.

Well, this is why A6 Allroad and the newly bastardized E-Class wagon exist.

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#25

Post by lovemenot »

sam_goody wrote: post #10

Is there some way that this or similar can be copied by all automakers, or is this all patented by Kia/Hyundai in such a way that most improvements are completely locked in?

Assuming the technology has actual value, Kia/Hyundai would likely be more incentivised to license it to other vehicle-makers, than to keep an exclusive license for themselves.

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#26

Post by grogenaut »

seltzered_ wrote: post #18

FWIW, there was recently a now-defunct car company (Lordstown motors) that utilized an in-wheel motor from the company Elaphe ( https://in-wheel.com/en/technology/#in-wheel-motor-technolog... ) I think the tradeoff is between more flexibility & fewer parts (no cv joints) but possibly more rolling resistance. But watch the video, this uni-wheel thing is different. It isnt an in-wheel motor, more of a cv-joint alternat…

unsprung weight I believe is also a big issue with hub motors esp as you get up to car size at speed

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#28

Post by SkyPuncher »

mech987987 wrote: post #7

More mass inside the wheel increases unsprung weight and worsens some ride/suspension characteristics of a vehicle- that being said the tradeoff might not be too bad in this case.

My semi-educated guess is the heavier weight of the vehicle means the wheels can bear a bit more weight.

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#29

Post by metamet »

lovemenot wrote: post #25
sam_goody wrote: post #10

Is there some way that this or similar can be copied by all automakers, or is this all patented by Kia/Hyundai in such a way that most improvements are completely locked in?

Assuming the technology has actual value, Kia/Hyundai would likely be more incentivised to license it to other vehicle-makers, than to keep an exclusive license for themselves.

Especially considering how their name and brand are in the dumpster, and likely won't recover. Their cars will be targeted for break ins for a long time to come due to how viral the vulnerability is, regardless of whether or not the model is actually susceptible to it.

Re: Hyundai Uni Wheel electric drive system could revolutionize EV design

#30

Post by daemonologist »

seltzered_ wrote: post #18

FWIW, there was recently a now-defunct car company (Lordstown motors) that utilized an in-wheel motor from the company Elaphe ( https://in-wheel.com/en/technology/#in-wheel-motor-technolog... ) I think the tradeoff is between more flexibility & fewer parts (no cv joints) but possibly more rolling resistance. But watch the video, this uni-wheel thing is different. It isnt an in-wheel motor, more of a cv-joint alternat…

There's another startup, Aptera, which is ostensibly still working towards producing a vehicle using Elaphe hub motors. Interestingly they are efficiency focused so I wonder how the motors are working out for them in that respect.
Post reply on HN