Active in ABB FIA Formula E from the first season, Schaeffler believes the electric racing series is an ideal test field for the development of electric mobility technologies. Now the company has developed a concept example of how technology is transferred from motor racing to a close-to-volume-production vehicle.
The 4ePerformance is powered by no fewer than four Formula E drives from them ABT Schaeffler FE01 racing car, each of which provides a power output of 220kW.
In total, an all-electric drive power of up to 880kW (1,200ps) is available, accelerating the concept racing car from 0km/h to 200km/h in less than 7 seconds. Each individual motor is directly connected to a wheel by means of a spur gear unit, while two motors share one gearbox housing and thereby form an electric twin axle.
This architecture enables selective control of drive torque to individual wheels. The power required for this is provided by two batteries with an overall capacity of 64kWh.
“For Schaeffler, this vehicle is a test laboratory on wheels thanks to its free scaling options for the drive power,” said Simon Opel, director for special projects motorsports at Schaeffler.
“We are currently testing and developing our own driving dynamics control system, which is based on physical vehicle and wheel modeling. We have been learning a lot especially in the area of software-based driving dynamics control systems.”
“In the same way as Schaeffler has contributed its technical expertise to Formula E from the very beginning, it also plays a pioneering role and is a partner for components and complete system solutions when it comes to applying electric mobility to volume production vehicles and putting them on the road”, explained Peter Gutzmer, chief technical officer at Schaeffler.
The automotive supplier offers a wide range of products for electric mobility and the electrification of the entire drive train: from technologies for 48V hybridization and high-voltage hybrid modules that have been tested in volume production, through to modular electric axles that will soon also be applied in renowned upper-class electric vehicles in Europe, after first volume-production solutions have been offered in China.
