Michelin with a breakthrough in the plug-in Electric Car field
Posted by mbgs on December 1, 2008
Hattip to Treehugger:
Well-known tire company Michelin is launching a new breakthrough in electric car technology- the “Active Wheel“
By placing the motor in the wheel, Michelin is making electric cars 70% more efficient in cities than their combustion-engine counterparts. The wheel is being released in Europe as the drivetrain for the Heuliez Will, a modified version of the ubiquitous-in-Europe Opel Agila wagon. The Will goes public for the 2011 model year, and is available for fleet buyers in 2010.
Despite the fact that the wheels, with motors, weight 90 pounds apiece, the Will weighs just under a ton, and 165 pounds less than its Opel cousin.
