In most vehicles the unsprung mass consists of tires, rims, hubs, break discs, bolts, uprights and more. Unsprung mass is the weight of all object that are installed between the road and the suspension system, and it greatly affects the behaviour of the vehicle when encountering either small interferences or large obstacles in the road.
One of the most prominent approaches to electric cars is hub motors, which are electric motors installed between the rim and the hub of the wheel, providing propulsion power right when necessary, without large and heavy gearboxes or drive shafts. However they dramatically increase the unsprung mass.
SoftWheel’s Adaptive In-Wheel Suspension is the only technology designed from inception to effectively reduce the vehicle’s unsprung mass. In SoftWheel’s approach the only parts which are not sprung are the rim and tire. This is extremely important when dealing with hub-motors where the adaptive suspension is not effected by the hub-motor torque allowing peak performance with ultimate comfort.
SoftWheel’s revolutionary energy-efficiency capabilities are key to dramatically reducing vehicle weight and increasing driving range. Allowing for 360 degree suspension around the rim not only increases ride comfort but also dramatically improves handling and responsiveness. Preliminary testing shows propulsive power transfer was over 20% more efficient than custom suspension, and 10% more efficient than a fully rigid suspension configuration.