e-4WD Development
Hyundai Wia Corp., an automotive parts making arm of Hyundai Motors Group in South Korea, has succeeded in developing eco-friendly four-wheel-drive (e-4WD) system for the first time in the country and is readying mass production.
According to the company on November 8, the e-4WD system is driven by an electric motor so it is environmentally friendly and enhances fuel efficiency. The system can be applied to not only electric vehicles but also hybrid cars.
Hyundai Wia’s e-4WD system run the back wheels after installing a motor and inverter on the back of a front-wheel drive vehicle. Like existing hybrid vehicles, the system drives an electric motor in the low speed ranges and transmits the force with the engine in the high speed ranges depending on the situation. The motor is charged with energy generated when slowing down the car.
Hyundai Wia said that the e-4WD system can improve fuel efficiency as well as drive performance. The conventional four-wheel drive systems loses fuel efficiency while transmitting the force of the engine to the back. However, the new system enhances fuel efficiency by 30 percent by generating driving power with a separate motor.
The e-4WD system also has the better power performance than the existing mechanical four-wheel drive systems. A test conducted by the firm showed that the system shortened the shift from stop mode to 100 kilometers per hour to 7.9 seconds from 10.7 seconds average in conventional all-wheel-drive cars, which was 24 percent faster. The performance of climbing hill, which usually requires the four-wheel drive systems, was improved by 30 percent as well.
Hyundai Wia has produced the e-4WD in two kinds of models with 30㎾ and 50㎾. Both models has strong drive performance with the maximum torque of 20.9㎏.m. The company expects that its e-4WD system will be successfully positioned in the market as the global auto industry is more paying attention to eco-friendliness and high fuel efficiency.