January 10th 2023
Hyundai Mobis unveiled a revolutionary in-wheel module, the e-Corner, at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, equipped on a prototype Ioniq 5 that boasts the ability to rotate its wheels 90 degrees.
This cutting-edge module, designed by Hyundai’s spare parts and autonomous driving division, features an electric motor, electric damper, brake by wire, and steer by wire, making it a compact and versatile package fit for a wide range of plug-in vehicles, streamlining the work of engineers.
The e-Corner concept, first showcased in 2018, has been fully integrated into all four corners of the recognizable Ioniq 5 EV, showcasing the impressive capabilities of the Korean company in the EV field. In a video demonstration, the purpose-built vehicle smoothly glides into and out of parallel parking spots with the simple rotation of its wheels.
But the e-Corner’s abilities don’t stop there, as it also allows for a wide range of maneuvers such as spinning 360 degrees with a fast, seamless zero-turn function, driving diagonally, similar to the GMC Hummer EV, and even pivot driving, mimicking the movement of a forklift. Hyundai Mobis has yet to release further information about the e-Corner, but its potential to simplify EV assembly and enhance maneuverability for drivers is undeniable.
This technology can be seen as a modern interpretation of a technique first presented in 1927 in Paris on the pioneering front-wheel drive car and echoes the invention of the Park-Car, an American car modification in the 1930s that added a fifth wheel to ease parking.
Source: InsideEVs
Images: AutoEvolution