NTN : Concludes License Contract with FSAT Corp.(China) regarding In-Wheel Motor System

NTN Technology adopted in world's first EV* using In-Wheel Motor produced by FSAT Corp.
*as passenger car

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has developed the air cooled In-Wheel Motor driving System(IWM driving system) and vehicle motion control system(i²-Drive System) and concluded with FSAT Corporation(hereafter, FSAT) which is Chinese company of design and manufacturing of automobile. NTN will provide technical support to the FSAT and FSAT will produce the lightweight New Energy Vehicle (NEV) which adopts IWM driving system. The NEV which to be produced by FSAT will adopts CFRP body and aluminum casted chassis by FSAT's lightweight technology, and also the IWM driving system and vehicle motion control system of NTN.

As electrification being progressed more and more in the automotive market recently, the major driving system of Electric Vehicle (EV) is one motor driving system which adopts the large electric motor equipped in engine part and there is no mass-produced EV which adopts the IWM. NTN has started the research and development of the IWM driving system for next generation EV from 2003 and continued to improve the system more lightweight and compact.

IWM driving system which is adopted in the NEV can be mounted in 'MacPherson Strut', the major layout in FF vehicles. The system can be installed in existing basic layout, other components such as suspensions of engine vehicle do not require new designing so that the system has excellent applicability. Also, IWM driving system developed in NTN realized both compact and lightweight body by adopting the reduction gear. Also adoption of air cooling system simplified the structure.

The IWM driving system enables the direct control of each driving wheel. NTN has developed the unique vehicle motion control system(i²-Drive System) which can control yaw motion. i²-Drive System can control the torque of each driving wheel, as a result, the power difference generates between right and left wheels and control precisely the yaw moment(turning power of vehicle) The gained yaw moment will improve the turning performance in accordance with the driver's steering. Also, the sensors detect and assist the motion of vehicle and keep the stability in the case where the posture is instable. Furthermore, the system can realize the traction control by independent control of driving power in each wheel and ABS control using regenerative braking.

FSAT President Yunbo Liu(left)
and NTN President Ohkubo(right)

NTN will support the production of IWM driving system and mounting of vehicle motion control system(i²-Drive System) for the NEV. The mass-production of NEV will start from 2019 and 300,000 vehicles for year will be produced in 2023. NTN and FSAT will roll out the NEVs in Chinese and global market and will contribute to the realization of low carbon society.

NTN will exhibit the 'Beijing Motor Show 2018 (Auto China)', held in the China International Exhibition Center (old building, Building No.1A, Booth No.280), from April 25 with FSAT and showcasing the IWM driving system and the NEV, in which the IWM driving system is mounted.

Reference

[Comparison of one motor and IWM driving system]

Comparison of one motor and IWM driving system

[MacPherson Strut and IWM driving system]

MacPherson Strut and IWM driving system

IWM driving system with reduction gear

[Structure of IWM driving system]

System structure