In-wheel motor application in a 4WD electric vehicle with foldable body concept

With the growing concern on the environment and limited petroleum, the transportation field has been looking for alternative modes, vehicle segments, and improved operation strategies. On the other hand, with the growing transportation issues on urban applications in the trend of increasing numbers of mega cities and elderly populations, the personal mobility vehicle concept is being studied especially for the urban applications while maximizing the convenience of the users. This paper will introduce and review a conceptual prototype of personal mobility vehicles. The innovative design of an electric vehicle with a foldable concept will be introduced and discussed focused on the in-wheel motor assembly design and control of 4 wheel independent drive application. The required driving performance and dynamic characteristics of the vehicle are discussed and presented through the vehicle modeling considering the motor operation and control system design.