The world's fastest plug-in hybrid
Apparently high-performance electric vehicles are today's supercar du jour (see Tesla Roadster and OBVIO! 828). British firm PML decided, however, that not enough attention was being paid to in-wheel electric motor technology (except by Mitsubishi?), and decided to build a platform on which to showcase the technology.
The PML MINI QED sports four in-wheel electric motors, each of which produce 160 bhp for a total of 640 all-electric bhp. That power can propel the EV MINI to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 150 mph. A battery pack and bank of ultracapacitors is at the ready to dish out enough wattage to power the car for four hours, while there's a 250cc 2-cylinder four-stroke gas engine on board to generate more electricity for longer trips. It can even be plugged in to recharge at night, making it unofficially the fastest plug-in hybrid in the world.
Drivers can select between three modes that will affect the MINI QED's range: Eco, Normal and Sport mode, the latter of which unleashes the electron-induced fury of PML's powertrain. Unfortunately, it's just a what-if vehicle, although PML says it's open to adapting its system for use in other commercially available vehicles.
(PDF specs of PML MINI QED can be found here and more pics are after the jump)
[Source: PML, Channel4]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Ben @ Jul 21st 2006 3:07PM
lol how the EV go from "supposively" super duper slow to super duper fast overnight ..
Joe @ Jul 21st 2006 3:09PM
In wheel electric motors are the dumbest most inefficient way you could possibly power a vehicle.
Lets see:
Incresed unsprung weight = crap ride comfort
No torque multiplication
You can't free wheel.
And it looks fucking retarded with the tires sticking out like that. Mitsubishi's similar concept cars are just as bad.
anahit @ Jul 21st 2006 3:16PM
Plus it's illegal in my state and every state of which I'm aware. The wheels can't extend beyond the wells.
I know, I know, it's a horrible law because that look is totally classy combined with 11" rims on, say, a 1977 Monte Carlo.
Mike @ Jul 21st 2006 3:34PM
1) I'll give you unsprung weight
2) You don't need torque multiplication for an electric motor. They deliver massive torque at low RPM
3) Why can't you freewheel ? Less stuff to move than even kicking a normal car into neutral.
4) I'm sure they can sort out the offset issue, once they move beyond concept.
Watch your f***ing mouth Joe.
ruggels @ Jul 21st 2006 3:42PM
nice, finally someone's picking up where mitsu left off, right in line with someone named Murray and someone named gordon murray and burt ratan mentioned would be a great idea. obviously the final product won't look like this, more like what mitsu has shown. it's about damn time someone started thinking outside the box. or more accurately, inside those huge CAT trucks, who also use electric motors to move the wheels and engines to provide power to said motors. I love it. Though let's be a little kinder on proof of concept cars vs the ready to take orders full production cars :).
Yada @ Jul 21st 2006 4:33PM
I think we are definitely going to see more manufacturers get involved with electric cars. To date, they have not been real impressive however they are improving. With the way gas prices are going, you are going to see more pressure to deliver a quality vehicle. http://importantblogposts.blogspot.com/
GDUB @ Jul 21st 2006 4:37PM
650hp and only 4.5 sec to 60 wow that thing must be a brick.
i am glad people are further exploring hybrid cars but until battery weight comes down i dont think handeling is going to be on par with normally aspirated sports cars.
my opinion.
Rémi @ Jul 21st 2006 4:37PM
Hydro-Québec made a concept car 10 years ago that use that kind of technologie: a electric ''4 in wheels motor'' car, but it never go into production. Appartently, we are too loser to build a car in the province of quebec...
Joe @ Jul 21st 2006 4:39PM
Mike you are a fucking moron. Shut the fuck up. Nobody cares what you think.
Turf @ Jul 30th 2007 10:16AM
Was your evaluation 'doesn't play well with others'? You might consider looking for some direction in your life.
Max @ Jul 21st 2006 5:18PM
You guys have to remember that they converted a car. If they built something from the ground up, I am sure they could accomodate the motor pods without having to space the wheels beyond the fendwell.
While pod motors may have drawbacks, they also have significant advantages.
1. No traditional drivetrain
2. You have more options for a larger passenger cabin, allowing more design options
3. Potentially Better weight distribution
4. True AWD with much more precise control of each wheel for traction/yaw control
The unsprung weight sucks, but I would imagine the application for this technology wouldn't be in sportscars. It would be for small vehicles that require high efficiency, excellent use of space, configurability for different world markets and reduced cost of manufacture. The pods are definetly winners in all those areas.
Corey @ Jul 21st 2006 6:40PM
I agree with Max, but I am curious about the design. I would hope the wheels are separate in case one gets bent or you decide to upgrade. Also the wheel bearing design? I am just hoping that the wheel and suspension issues are shadetree mechanic friendly down the road. Can someone ditch Joe's comments. I feel sorry that his keyboard has to be touched by his fingers.
Daggy @ Jul 21st 2006 6:42PM
There is a Taiwan company that makes electric scooters with the motor built in the rear wheel. They use a DC motor with brushes, which probably allows the wheel to turn freely with the power off, and also explains why there is a rear disc brake and no regeneration.
Look at http://www.evt.com.tw/
Peter @ Jul 21st 2006 6:58PM
Hub motors are the future. Not all stick out like this. Rember this car has 640 HP!.
Hub motors and flywheel power storage is what I would want. Talk about low maintenance.
Bert @ Jul 21st 2006 9:14PM
Rémi,
Not only can we not exploit our knowledge in electricity but we let GM extort money from governments, kill the car that the plant is based on, shut down the plant and then miraculosly resurect the car. I am sure that GM even made money on the sale of the land. Crisse on s'est fait fourré sur celle-là !
But look how effecient they were tearing down the plant! 6 months down to noting.
MikeW @ Jul 21st 2006 10:22PM
You can get torque multiplication with wheel motors.
Lots of heavy duty equipment has planetary reduction gears in the hub.
I think there are bi-directional overruning clutches, but that is getting too complicated. for KISS electric cars.
Hary @ Jul 22nd 2006 1:52AM
Remi, Hydro-Québec is still there. They have two small spin offs to make electric motors and Lithium Metal Polymer batteries. The French Aircraft company Disault (sp ?) is a partner.
Ian Bruce @ Jul 22nd 2006 3:34AM
I think it's brilliant. If anyone's in London, they're showing this vehicle at British Motor Show at stand 270 thru July 30th.
... and any automotive engineer worth his salt can mitigate the unsprung weight issue in a car designed around such motors. It's not a show-stopper by any stretch. Actually, I stopped reading Joe's post when he said "no torque multiplication". Duh.
GhostDoggy @ Jul 22nd 2006 6:41AM
anahit, "The wheels can't extend beyond the wells." I thought the same. I am in Georgia, and it seems almost every Latino has lowered the vehicle put extensions on the wheels, and then added under-sized and very, very wide wheels and tires for the Hot Wheels look.
Of course, it can be illegal all day and all night, but trying to get any of Georgia's police departments to do anything about it is like asking them to stop eating donuts.
GhostDoggy @ Jul 22nd 2006 7:50AM
Its still a brick. Not trying to bash the Mini, but really, the Mini is over 3300 pounds in its natural form. What is mini about that kind of weight? Even the New Beetle is 400-500 pounds less.AC