Hyundai Is Reinventing The Wheel And Putting ‘Snow Chains’ Into Tires
The Hyundai Motor Group has big plans for electric cars in the United States.
It already manufactures the Genesis GV70 Electrified in Alabama and is building new factories in Georgia that will be cranking out mainstream Hyundai and Kia EV models soon.
A new technology it is working on could reshape how those vehicles look.
The Universal Wheel Drive System or Uni Wheel was designed for electric cars.
HYUNDAI AND KIA SWITCHING TO TESLA CHARGING PLUG TECH
It moves the reduction gears needed for an electric motor inside of the wheel, where they rotate the vehicle through a ring gear.
The multi-axis movement of the setup allows the driveshaft to connect to it without the need for a conventional CV joint.
The main advantage is that the vehicle can use smaller electric motors located closer to the wheels, which makes them more efficient and opens up space in the platform that can be used for passengers, cargo or additional batteries.
Hyundai hasn’t put a date on when the Uni Wheel will be in production, but it might come with a new kind of tire when it does.
THE 2024 HYUNDAI SANTA FE IS READY TO BE UNBOXED
The automaker has designed a tire with a built in “snow chain” system that doesn’t exactly use chains.
Instead, it has indentations within its tread in which sit strips of memory alloy that can be compressed to sit below the surface level of the rubber.
KIA EV9 ELECTRIC SUV PRICING REVEALED
When an electrical current is applied, the strip stretches to its original shape so that it protrudes from the tire to provide added traction.
Along with the instant access, Hyundai said the compressed strips serve to notify drivers that they need to replace their tires, because they will come in contact with the road and make noise when the rubber has been worn away.
As with the Uni Wheel, the tire is a work in progress.
Read This Next
