First mass electric car with all-wheel hub motors has no brakes or CV joints

The first production electric vehicle from a major manufacturer with hub motors in each wheel has been approved for sale in China.

Filing data from the local MIIT regulatory body shows that Dongfeng's eπ 007 sedan variant will be hitting the market with four in-wheel hub motors each delivering 100 kW of peak power, for 536 hp of combined output.

Dongfeng is using a new generation of axial flux "pancake" motors from Shanghai Automobile Electric Drive that are actually able to deliver said peak power on a consistent basis. The vehicle's prototypes have reportedly shown an enviable power-to-weight ratio, as the all-wheel hub motor concept makes a lot of drivetrain components obsolete.

Unlike the boutique Lightyear 0 or Lordstown Endurance electric vehicles that also have four hub motors, Dongfeng's sedan has no traditional braking system of disks, pads, or calipers as a backup, as well as no CV joints.

The first production EV from a major automaker uses magnetic braking and wheel locking for parking, while the lightweight hub motors help achieve 25% higher energy recuperation when braking as they allow more granular control of the slowdown effort.

Each wheel can act independently of the others, improving traction, while the hub motor concept shortens the turning radius by up to 15%. Drivetrain efficiency has been improved by up to 30%, too, thanks to the direct wheel control that eschews the energy loss during transfer through a more traditional setup.

Other than the innovative hub motor system, the new Dongfeng sports sedan variant fits in the exact same dimensions as its more traditional siblings. The removal of drivetrain components, however, make it lighter and allow for improved battery placement that widens the available space for passengers or cargo.

It is not clear how long after the regulatory approval will Dongfeng announce the first mass-produced Chinese EV with four in-wheel hub motors, but it could be released in time for the Beijing Auto Show in the spring.

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