The Uni Wheel Revolution by KIA and Hyundai

The Korean cousins have developed an “Uni Wheel” system touted to revolutionize the design of future vehicles.

Uni Wheel is a functionally integrated wheel drive system that significantly improves the available space inside an electric vehicle by moving the main drive components into the free space within the wheel hub.

In internal combustion engine vehicles, power is transmitted from the engine to the wheels via drive shafts. In electric vehicles, the engine and transmission are replaced by a motor and a reducer, but the final method of transmitting power to the wheels remains the same.

Uni Wheel opens up new possibilities and enables a flat-floor configuration by relocating the reducer inside the wheel hub, while the motor is positioned near each wheel, thus reducing the length of the drive shafts.

Uni Wheel uses a special “planetary” gear configuration consisting of a sun gear in the center, four satellite gears, and a ring housing the mechanism. The power generated by the motor is transmitted to the sun gear, which in turn engages the satellites to rotate the ring gear. The ring gear is connected to the wheel to drive the vehicle.

The Uni Wheel concept frees up space in the vehicle that was previously unavailable. By relocating many drive system components into the wheel hub and reducing the size of the electric motor without affecting performance, the extra space available in the vehicle’s body can be used for passengers or cargo volume.

In addition to vehicles of various sizes and technical configurations, Uni Wheel can also be used in other mobility devices such as wheelchairs, bicycles, and delivery robots. The system can be utilized starting from a 4-inch wheel format and beyond 25 inches.

Kia and Hyundai Motor have filed eight patents related to Uni Wheel in South Korea, as well as in the United States and Europe.

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