I'm really curious about the selection of wheel motors. Nobody has been successful at creating one that was durable enough AND had any decent efficiency. I'd be curious about your selection and how much of an efficiency hit you have versus what you had in the previous design with the inboard motor and driveshafts.
Discussion
I’m curious how this will be registered in the US and how that will effect vehicle insurance.
@palmer_md Hi welcome back to the forum after so many years! I believe Aptera will go with Elaphe in-wheel motors. Maybe they will go with an S400 on the rear wheel and 2 M700 on the front for 3 wheel drive. Or Aptera will spec a custom development motor. Elaphe claims High efficiency (> 90%) of the motors. I think testing by Aptera should be necessary to see if this product is up to the task.
Thanks for sharing the video for Elaphe. I saw a lot of good testing, but the one test that I did not see which is important is when the wheel hits a bump and there is a side load on the motor along the shaft axis. For example when rounding a cloverleaf exit and hitting bumps/potholes. This side loading is one of the things that I understand is difficult to handle. Most motors do not have forces along the axis of the rotor, usually just perpendicular to it. I'll have to look further into what they have developed. VERY interesting.
Thanks for this question and information shared. I live in a state where many roads are still primitive but typically graded... so wonder if a primitive road will be challenging for the planned Aptera wheel drive system/drivetrain?
(I personally have trek seven miles of primitive roads from our high mountain ranch Community to the paved roads. I presently have mid size AWD truck which is fine on the primitive roads. Also a second AWD vehicle with and adaptive suspension system which seems to help on those roads too. I have no need to do off road 4WD but for monsoon season...my present vehicles are great. Finger crossed that the AWD Aptera suspension will be primitive road friendly at least for a short trek like this on a regular basis. I realize choices will be based on main owner’s needs, while being weight conscious....)
Motors will not be water cooled like other EVs are?
I don't know - and the only EV I know of that has liquid cooling, is the Chevy Bolt EV; which uses automatic transmission fluid to both cool and lubricate the motor and the reduction gear and differential.
Chevy Volt, Leaf, Teslas and others have liquid cooled motors.
Motors will be liquid cooled if I can believe the website. See the continuous power output https://in-wheel.com/product-category/motors/.
Good spot!
It is official!
Thinking back to the old Aptera 2e....now have three in wheel motors mean a better center of gravity for the vehicle! But watch the potholes😞
Wow. I realize this is just an illustration for the in wheel motor but if the tire and wheel I representative of what will be used.... that is a nice wide track tire and fancy wheel (rim) ... all hidden under the wheel skirt