German drivetrain parts specialist Schaeffler has developed a compact electric hub motor suited for municipal utility vehicles, with manufacturers of street sweepers, snowplows, and garbage collectors already showing interest. This innovation represents a new step in eliminating air and noise pollution from cities and other densely-populated areas.

Schaeffler has been innovating in the electric drivetrain space for some time now, showing a four-in-one drive unit for EVs in 2022 and competing in Formula E. A drivetrain for the future fully electric DTM race class is next on the agenda, but the German group is also looking into electrifying slower vehicles. Street sweepers, for example.

More flexibility and maneuverability

That is the main focus for the new hub motor from Schaeffler, which delivers 60 kW of peak power (7 to 26 kW nominal power) and houses all of the necessary components for propulsion and braking within a hub that fits inside a 14-inch wheel. Only the inverter needs to be placed elsewhere in the vehicle, along with the battery.

A hub motor allows for more flexibility in the design or conversion of a municipal utility vehicle such as a street sweeper or a garbage collector, which are often used in city centers and, therefore, benefit from better maneuverability and less noise. Jungo, a Swiss-German manufacturer of street sweepers, is already implementing the Schaeffler hub motor in vehicles this year.