Could next gen model use in wheel hub motors?

[fritter63]

Srsly, if you're looking to reduce costs, what's better than eliminating most of the drivetrain?

- At most you would have two motors, can probably get away with just one (most rear wheels drive ice cars really only applied power to one wheel)
- The myth of "unsprung wheel weight" has been demolished FWIR
- Would just be another component on the ethernet bus!
- Not looking for AWD
-- ETA: Although it's easy to do with hub motors
- Not looking for big acceleration performance

Discuss!

 

[Bill906]

can probably get away with just one (most rear wheels drive ice cars really only applied power to one wheel)

Most (if not all) rear wheel drive cars (or front wheel drive cars, let’s say two wheel drive cars) supply power to both wheels. Just not always at the same time. If “one wheel drive” was a viable option I’m sure at least the super cheap cars would replace the differential with a simple right angle gearbox and lose the other axle.

 

[Crissa]

Some older cars barely had a differential at all and only one effective drive wheel.

But... I do not think Tesla will make vehicles that light that hub motors would make sense, within the next decade.

-Crissa