Hyundai and Kia have teamed up to introduce a revolutionary new drivetrain system called the 'Uni Wheel,' promising to transform both personal and commercial mobility. Brace yourself—this one’s going to blow your mind.

The Uni Wheel reimagines existing drivetrain technology, cleverly relocating the main drive system components to the vacant space within a car’s wheel hub. Intrigued? Let’s dive into the mechanics.

In a traditional combustion car, power travels from the engine through the transmission and then to the wheels via drive shafts and CV joints. In an EV, the electric motor and reduction gear take over for the engine and transmission, but the rest of the process remains largely the same.

The Uni Wheel, however, disrupts this setup by repositioning the reduction gear inside the wheel hub and placing compact individual motors closer to each wheel. This clever arrangement reduces the size of the drive shafts and frees up floor space, giving you more room in the cabin for, well, anything you fancy.

Now, let’s get a bit geekier. 

The magic of the Uni Wheel lies in its ‘planetary’ gear configuration. Picture this: a central ‘sun’ gear, flanked by four ‘pinion’ gears, all encased by a ‘ring’ gear. The motor’s power is sent to the sun gear, which then transfers it to the pinion gears, ultimately driving the ring gear. This ring gear, connected directly to the wheels, brings the car to life. Each wheel essentially has its own motor, enhancing torque vectoring and handling precision.

Hyundai and Kia also claim that the Uni Wheel will improve ride comfort. By working in tandem with multi-axis suspension, the drivetrain can deliver quicker bursts of power and torque, stabilizing the vehicle over rough surfaces.

This technology, still under refinement, has the potential to be applied to anything with wheels, from four inches to 25 inches in diameter. That means it could revolutionize mobility solutions ranging from bicycles to wheelchairs. Who knows? We might even see a new racing series for delivery robots—'Formula Robot' has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

The future of EVs is looking exciting, and the Uni Wheel is set to play a big part in it. Whether it's for a nimble city car or an innovative new mobility device, Hyundai and Kia are driving us toward a more efficient and versatile electric future.