[Otto]

After viewing the MTSU and ABC television videos, I think this thing is an excellent idea, but could be significantly optimized:

1. Put the permanent magnets on the wheel itself, further from the axis of rotation (the axle centerline), for more torque per pulse of electricity. This means you can dump the brake drums, using lighter, better, and thinner brake disks instead. With regenerative braking taking much of the braking load, this means the disks could be even smaller/lighter than normal, further reducing unsprung wheel weight. Since the stress path which applies torque to the wheel travels between permanent and electromagnets, putting the permanent magnets on the wheel itself means less stress going circuitously down through wheel center section, meaning the wheel center section could be made thinner and lighter, i.e., less unsprung wheel weight than conventional.

2. Put the stator electromagnets on a fixed pizza-pan disk, adjacent to the permanent magnets on the inner surface of the wheel. This structure not only holds the electromagnets, but streamlines the inner surface of the wheel, as it acts as a fairing, reducing aerodynamic drag in that area. Think: Wheel shape is effectively pizza pan covers on both sides of the wheel. Porsche Design 90 or sewer lid aluminum wheels would be ideal, as they are already among the lightest wheels made and have nearly the same outer surface shape as pizza pans. A composite wheel would save further weight, albeit at significant co$t.

3. Dump the entire engine, transmission, drivetrain, exhaust, fuel, cooling, etc. assembly, reducing vehicle weight accordingly, and go with purely battery powered electric drive. Maybe a small onboard diesel auxiliary power unit running at optimum constant rpm to drive an alternator to keep the batteries topped off only as needed. Run the apu on used cooking oil. This presumes some light, cheap diesel can be found. (I know that lightweight, diesel, and cheap are mutually exclusive terms, but hope springs eternal.)

Trains and ships run on this method--diesel driven generators make electricity to power electric motors that then drive the wheels or propeller shafts.

Later, as better/cheaper/lighter lithium batteries such as lithium-air become available, or lenr heat source for a stirling engine generator come online, remove the diesel and its weight.