Movito: modular, hubless electric scooter design

For goodness sake stop waffling!

Who stocks it?

Where can I buy it?

Want!

Sqidge

- March 19, 2009 @ 04:03 am PDT

We've been down this road before. Hubless wheels weigh more since they have larger bearings. Protecting those bearings from the elements is more problematic. Because they're further from the center of the wheel, they have to rotate faster, creating more wear and heat. Hubless is a solution looking for a problem.

Spirit of 76

- March 19, 2009 @ 09:03 pm PDT

Hubless wheels may be heavier and more vulnerable, due to the reasons mentioned by Spirit. But also maybe the opposite. The extra weight may be more than compensated by loosing the hub itself, its connection to the rim and making the rim lighter, since it will be subject to lower loads. The torsion and shear loads in this kind of wheel will probably be way lower. Also the design may facilitate lighter suspension systems.

Time will show if hubless wheel engineering qualities are good enough. At the moment, this kind of wheels are justified primarily by looking cool. And so they do! The rest of the scooter/concept too.

Ready and reliable.... or not: I want one!

Stein

- March 20, 2009 @ 04:03 am PDT

I would think the vastly increased size of the bearing surface would make for a cooler bearing compared to the much smaller hub bearings. Also, it would seem the design would allow for better cooling.

FredEx

- March 22, 2009 @ 10:03 pm PDT

The $12,000 price for the in-wheel CSIRO motor (click the in-wheel link) should give you a sense of potential price point...add to that the beauty and simplicity of the design.

JWP

- April 20, 2009 @ 11:04 am PDT

Cost and manufacturability are probably going to be two nuts that are hard to crack on this. Most likely just a sexy design exercise?

ELV

- May 18, 2009 @ 01:05 pm PDT