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Michelin's Active Wheel could revolutionize vehicle design

By Rain Noe - December 2, 2008

in Object Culture

We naturally expect automotive innovation to come from the big automakers; but with America's Big Three on the ropes--not that they've been recently innovative anyway--it's nice to see a company like Michelin, previously thought of as just a tire maker, taking up the slack. The new Michelin Active Wheel could potentially usher in a new future for vehicle design, where innovation comes from multiple sectors, including "mere" suppliers.

So what is it? Read on:

...The transformation is truly revolutionary--no more engine under the front or rear bonnet, no more traditional suspension system, and no more gearbox or transmission shaft thanks to the Michelin Active Wheel. That's because all essential components have been integrated into the wheel itself. Cars equipped with this integrated solution deliver an array of unique advantages. In a sense, the Michelin Active Wheel is an intelligent wheel capable of propelling cars without gasoline, while ensuring suspension and braking functions and providing unrivalled road handling and comfort.

The Michelin Active Wheel inaugurates a new era in road transportation in which a car's road, safety, energy and environmental performance achieve unprecedented levels. This is because of a miniature drive engine and an electrical suspension system incorporated into the wheel. These technologies developed by Michelin have made it possible to completely rethink the car.

via autoblog

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Andrew

16 years ago

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Michelin is working with Venturi on building the concept car pictured above in 2012...
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Louis Bï¿½liveau

16 years ago

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This so called innovation was developed 10 years ago by Canadian researchers working for Hydro-Quebec. The inventor as been muscled, patents bought buy force and his family threatened buy the automotive industry... When are we really going to see an electric car with wheel engines... Here's a link I found quickly http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/decouverte/flash/moteur-roue.html.
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Wajid Mahmood

16 years ago

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Hi Dears,
This is very interested and nice to know about said new innovation by Michelin tire company. I am also working for Michelin brand tyres in Pakistan as Technical/ Commercial Representative. Please keep me informed about such interested news.
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Jay

16 years ago

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What do you mean! Innovation always comes from the suppliers, in japan that's how it always has been. The problem for most people is that they don't realize how much suppliers have to innovate to simply stay competitive. If there is anyone to blame for not being innovative it clearly falls in the lap of the automotive manufactures not the OEM's who have to deal with having to constantly lower and cut costs to simply get there parts into the car. This also has a detrimental affect on the suppliers especially 3rd tier suppliers who have to deal with 1st and 2nd tier suppliers who have already lowered there unit prices to the point where small companies dealing as a 3rd tier supplier are always on the brink of going broke.
This whole eco-system is very volatile, and is exactly the reason why so many manufacturing jobs end up getting off shored as large automotive manufacturers chase for cheaper unit prices in other countries. The auto industry is plagued with corrosive practices. The only reason why Toyota is still ok is because they maintain a small stake in lot of there suppliers, that's how they maintain quality and that's how they maintain control and ultimately that's how they manage to keep a lot of there jobs.
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James

16 years ago

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Just curious, did this concept originate in Michelin's Greenville, SC North American headquarters? I think we will see more automotive innovation from the southeast in the next few years.
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