Active Wheel
| Company type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Tire technology |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Michelin |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Products | In-wheel motor and suspension system |
Active Wheel was a tire technology developed by Michelin that incorporated both an electric motor and suspension system within the wheel itself. It made its first appearance at the 2004 Challenge Bibendum event mounted on the Hy-Light concept vehicle, and later was displayed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show on the Venturi Volage electric sports car as well as on the Heuliez Will. The initiative concluded in 2014.
This in-wheel motor system, similar to other in-wheel motor designs, provided approximately of direct power along with regenerative braking. Instead of using traditional mechanical suspension, it utilized an active suspension mechanism controlled by the motor inside each wheel, managing torque allocation, traction, steering, pitch, roll, and damping independently for every wheel. Nonetheless, the effects of environmental factors such as shocks, water exposure, and snow on this configuration were not comprehensively analyzed.
Prior to being acquired by Continental in 2007, Siemens VDO had developed a comparable technology known as eCorner.