Driving Dynamics Potentials of Electric Wheel Hub Drives – Results of the Research Project MEHREN

Authors

Maxim Arbitmann,
Continental, Frankfurt am Main;
Dr.-Ing. Roger Graaf,
Ford Werke GmbH, Aachen,;
Sebastian Wielgos,
Schaeffler AG, Herzogenaurach;
Dr.-Ing. Klaus Muehlbauer,
Continental, Regensburg;
Nico Depner, Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lutz Eckstein,
Institute for Automotive Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen

Summary

The research project MEHREN addresses a new powertrain for a battery electric vehicle driven by electric wheel hub drives at the rear axle. In [1] and [2], the virtual concept for such a vehicle as it was developed is presented. This paper focuses on the two hardware demonstration vehicles which were constructed based on a Ford Fiesta. The wheel hub drives, the Motion Control architecture including a novel wheel stability function called 'Speed Window Control', the two demonstrator vehicles as well as the evaluation results from bench tests and test drives are described. The
evaluation shows that a vehicle with wheel hub drives fulfils all practical and safety requirements and is attractive from the driving dynamics perspective.

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