Ferrari has filed a patent utility for in-wheel electrical motors. Whereas such know-how is not knew, Ferrari in its patent claims to have a extra simplified design.

The patent utility was first noticed by CarBuzz and filed with america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) on Apr. 21, and revealed on Nov. 2. In it, Ferrari explains that in-wheel motors unencumber inside area and likewise dispose of the necessity for gearboxes to switch energy from centerline-mounted motors to the wheels.

Nonetheless, Ferrari additionally notes that in-wheel motors can enhance the variety of components wanted in a wheel meeting, which provides price and complexity. The automaker’s answer is to combine motor and wheel parts as a lot as potential.

As described within the utility, Ferrari’s design is predicated round a brushless everlasting magnet synchronous AC motor. This kind of motor has a stator at its middle, surrounded by a rotor that is spun by magnetic forces. Ferrari proposes making the stator a part of the wheel hub and attaching the rotor to the rim, which might then spin together with the rotor.

Ferrari in-wheel motor patent picture

Along with complexity, one other potential difficulty with in-wheel motors is the added unsprung weight that comes from attaching a motor to the wheel meeting. This could have an effect on experience high quality and dealing with, however Ferrari claims within the utility that “an applicable suspension scheme” can mitigate any points.

A number of firms have experimented with in-wheel motors, together with Lordstown Motors. The Lordstown Endurance pickup truck was briefly manufactured utilizing in-wheel motors licensed from Slovenian agency Elaphe. Nonetheless, Lordstown filed for chapter after only a few vans have been made.

At CES 2023, McLaren and Elaphe additionally introduced plans to marry the previous’s racing tech with the latter’s in-wheel motors. Rumors of an electrical McLaren supercar have been circulating for years, however the firm’s CEO has stated the tech for such a automobile will not be prepared till 2030.