Hyundai And Kia Unveil New "Uni Wheel" Drive Technology

Drive shafts and constant velocity (CV) joints in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles transfer power from the engine to the transmission and, ultimately, the wheels. The engine and gearbox are replaced in an EV by a motor and reduction gear, but the power transmission mechanism to the wheels remains unchanged.

When compared to traditional drive systems, the Uni-Wheel frees up a significant amount of interior space, allowing for the future development of mobility goods tailored to specific uses, such as purpose-built vehicles (PBVs).
Hyundai has taken a comparable but different approach with the Uni Wheel system. With a sun gear in the middle, four pinion gears on either side, and a ring gear covering everything, it has a special planetary gear arrangement.

The sun gear receives power from the motor and engages the pinion gears to rotate the ring gear. This drives the car and is connected to the steering wheel. Due to Uni Wheels' multi-axis movement and multi-link mechanism, a broad range of suspension flexibility is possible. The pinion gears on Uni Wheels form two linkages.

Hyundai and Kia are continuously testing the stability, efficiency, and durability of Uni Wheel in order to maximize its development. Additionally, they intend to continue refining the cooling and lubrication systems and altering the reduction gear ratio in an effort to boost Uni Wheel's efficiency.