By integrating a motor, suspension system,
brakes and tire into a standalone wheel package,
Michelin’s paradigm-changing “Active Wheel”
technology is an innovation that could make
electric cars truly affordable and practical, as well
as fundamentally change the way we approach
car design. By integrating a motor, suspension
system, brakes and tire into a standalone
wheel package, Michelin’s paradigm changing
“Active Wheel” technology is an innovation
that could make electric cars truly affordable
and practical, as well as fundamentally change
the way we approach car design.
Earlier this year at the Paris Motor Show
Michelin revealed the Active Wheel to the world
and has since been busy firming up plans to
put it in an actual car by 2010, and partnering
with other companies for future cars. Granted,
the first implementation of the Active Wheel
technology does not win any awards for
innovative exterior design, but it’s just a start.
The first production car to use the technology
will be the 2010 Heuliez WILL, the result of a
collaboration between Heuliez, Michelin and
Orange. Michelin says the WILL has enough
room for 5 people, even though it’s about the
size of a compact car.The WILL can go from
0-62 mph (0-100 km) in 10 seconds with a top
speed of 87 mph (140 km/h) — making it fully
highway legal. It also will have a range of 93,
186 or 248 miles (150, 300 or 400 km) on a
single charge, depending on the modular
battery configuration the driver chooses.
Target price is around $30,000, putting it in
the realm of affordability for most people.
Due to the collaboration with French
telecom company Orange, the WILL has
been fully wired for advanced communications
options including WiFi and 3G.Taking advantage
of the fact that there’s nothing under the hood,
the WILL has an extremely large crumple
zone up front, prompting Michelin to claim
that the WILL is “just as safe as the big cars
on the road.” Additionally, the advanced
electrical suspension system in the Active
Wheels controls all pitching and rolling with
an extremely rapid computer response time
3/1000th of a second which also presumably
adds to the car’s safety.The first WILLs are
already on the road enduring testing and by
2010 the cars will be available for business fleets.
Heuliez envisions that first-year production
output will be several thousandvehicles.
By 2011 Michelin and Heuliez plan on making
the vehicles available to the general public
only hope that by then we’ve worked out a
way for cars designed in the European market
to be easily imported to the North American
market, ’cause I might just be the first in line.
Source and Image Credits: Michelin
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