In Belgium, Ford and its technology partner Schaeffler have unveiled an ingenious electric version of the Fiesta compact hatchback.
Power comes from two small electric motors in each of the rear wheels.
It’s all about minimizing space and Ford says the technology could lead to smaller vehicles, the size of current two-seaters but capable of carrying four people. Improved urban mobility is an issue for car-makers as predictions are by 2050 the numbers of vehicles on the world’s streets will increase by 400 per-cent and the number of people living in cities will grow by 3.0 billion to 6.4 billion – but major European cities cannot grow in size.
So included in the Ford Fiesta research vehicle is a new technology called eWheelDrive steering which enables the Fiesta research vehicle to move sideways into parking spaces.
Ford says with in-wheel motors, the components required for drive, deceleration and driver assistance technologies are installed in an integrated wheel hub drive.
