Quote:
Originally Posted by MazdaMatt
You are right.
The mini is hauling about 65 pounds per wheel, according to that article. My tire/rim combo is about 25. I think on a vehicle larger than a mini it would be more practical... but aren't we all trying to get away from larger vehicles? I suppose there will always be a need for pickup trucks and people haulers so that would be a good place for hub motors - beefier suspension and more %weight in the body.
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A minor point to add;
higher unsprung weight <a heavier wheel, essentially> doesn't require anything more than a different valved <stiffer> shock absorber or strut cartridge, to control the wheel assembly during a bump. The spring, a-arms, etc can remain unchanged. Heavier springs or air bags might be needed to handle the additional batteries, but you have that issue with most EV conversion, don't you?
Personally, I love the flexibility afforded by the Pulson retro-fit idea. Any 'clean sheet of paper, from the ground up' new design can be fully optimized, but a retrofit is an awesome stepping stone toward mainstream.