Ze EV? Valeo, Michelin team up for French electric car champion

It's not a new idea, but Valeo and Michelin want France to be known for electric cars. The two companies have announced they will partner up to develop and build pure EVs and plug-in hybrids. One of the more important partners, an automaker, is still missing. The two companies hope that Michelin's Active Wheel technology, which uses two built-in electric motors in each wheel, will entice one to climb aboard. According to Automotive News Europe, Michelin says that Active Wheel technology eliminates the need for a gearbox, clutch, transmission shift, universal joint or anti-roll bar. There's a lot of efficiency gained right there. If everything goes as planned, the resulting vehicle will be a "French champion," sort of a new EV icon with a strong French connection.
Last fall, Valeo won the Automechanika Innovation Award for its StARS Micro-Hybrid System. The system, also known as Stop & Start, can be found in the smart fortwo micro hybrid.

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]