The in-wheel motor and steering system in Geely enables an electric prototype to turn all the four wheels by up to 90 degrees hence the vehicle can move laterally, pivot on the spot as well as executing very tight manoeuvres in urban settings. It is exhibited on the EX5 EV, whereby an electric drive motor and steering actuator are incorporated in each wheel module to provide all four corners with independent drive and steering control rather than the traditional axle and rack.
How The 90° Wheel System Works
All four corners of the EX5 are fitted with its own self-contained driving unit, comprising all motor, steering and control electronics within the wheel cage, providing up to 90 degrees of steering lock per wheel. All these four modules are synchronized by a central controller so that the car is able to combine various angles and torque degrees and this is what enables sideways movement and zero-radius spins.
– All the wheels may steer and drive, not just frontal or rear steering.
– Protests provided a special glove and remote controls, where Geely proposed that phones and wearable items might also serve as controllers in the future.
What The Car Can Actually Do
The EX5 prototype has been demonstrated to perform a number of impossible moves on a car to a normal car in public tests.
– Zero-Radius rotates the front and rear wheels at divergent angles and allows the vehicle to rotate around an object.
– Sideways, otherwise known as crab-walking the car, involves turning the four wheels by 90 degrees such that the car slides sideways into or out of a parking place.
– Diagonal or omnidirectional shuffles in narrow areas, which consists of varying angles of the wheels and results in movement in unusual vectors.
Another point that Geely makes is that the stability management in slippery conditions or crosswinds can also be achieved by independent control at each wheel.
Key Specs And Capabilities
| Feature | Description/Claimed Capability |
|---|---|
| Wheel Rotation Angle | Up to 90° per wheel for full sideways motion. |
| Drive Layout | Four in-wheel motors with independent steering modules. |
| Highlighted Manoeuvres | Zero-radius spin, crab-walk, diagonal movement. |
| Control Interfaces (demo) | Smart glove, remote control; future phones/wearables. |
Urban And Safety Benefits
The headline benefit is urban manoeuvrability: it is much easier to park close to parallel or turn around and change lanes in very narrow streets because it is easy to move sideways or pivot. The system can also adjust the torque and angle individually in each wheel to maintain stability in the car even when traction is asymmetric, as a conventional stability control system is unable to achieve.
– Lateral parking into limited areas minimizes the time spent in making long parking manoeuvres[2].
– Shuffling of the car via phone could assist owners to get in and out of tight garages in case they are in a jam[1].
Engineering Trade-Offs
The wheel housings of the EX5 are quite large to install the modules in wheel form and enable the car to be steered 90 degrees, which Geely admits can impact the packaging and limit the space available in the cabin relative to a typical crossover. In-wheel motors are also more unsprung as well as have to endure impact, water and dirt contact directly, requiring a strong sealing system and suspension tuning.
– Bigger arches can limit the interior space or the suspension design unless they are well incorporated.
– Four in-wheel drive-and-steer units are complex, which probably increases the cost and maintenance needs as opposed to a traditional central motor layout.
Production Prospects
Geely does not declare the 90-degree in-wheel system as a production feature and is merely on display as a technology demonstration and the model has not been declared or a date when it is to be launched in the market. It is presented in company statements as the component of a bigger roadmap of AI and digital chassis, implying that the aspects of the technology may be transferred to the future EV platform as soon as the durability, price, and regulatory concerns are addressed.
– There are no retailing EX5 with this system that are on sale yet; the car is a development prototype[1].
– The brand is yet to make a time commitment to it, giving the technology an informal label of exploratory at the moment[2].
Quick FAQs
Q1: Do you have an opportunity to purchase a Geely EV with 90 wheels?
No. The EX5 looking 90-degree in-wheel steering is just a prototype; Geely but has not made any announcement regarding the production model and when this very system will be launched in the market.
Q2: What is the difference between this and other crab-walk systems?
Competitors generally adopt traditional motors with improved steering angles, but the concept of Geely incorporates both drive and full 90 degree steering in every wheel module to allow more accurate omnidirectional control.
Q3: What is the overall real world benefit in case it is put into production?
Low-speed manoeuvring, including sideways parking, pivot turning in limited spaces, and better handling in busy city conditions or other esoteric off-street access points, is much easier.