Protean Electric develops 360 degree steering wheel concept

Automotive and Transportation Design / A new Protean Electric ‘corner module’ concept integrates advanced powertrain, steering and suspension technologies in a single product. The Protean360+ is thought to be the first system of its kind to be developed for commercial applications, offering a limitless 360° steering capability. This is combined with suspension, pneumatic ride-height control and a highly efficient and powerful ProteanDrive in-wheel electric motor.

Protean Electric is developing the Protean360+ module for next-generation urban transportation vehicles. The module’s compact packaging will allow an entirely flat vehicle interior floor and sufficient lateral access to offer wheelchair ingress and egress via front, rear and side doors. This also means the vehicle can park front-, rear-, or side-on to the curb, and occupants can disembark straight onto the pavement without having to step into the road.

“Transport-as-a-Service urban mobility is gaining momentum, and with it the need for a new class of urban transport vehicles,” explained KY Chan, CEO of Protean Electric. “Whether shared or private, for passengers or goods deliveries, human-driven or autonomous, these new vehicles will require new technologies to be fit for purpose. The Protean360+ corner module was born from our team’s innovative thinking about how to meet the requirements for these next-generation urban vehicles.” The Protean360+ corner module intelligently combines cutting-edge, production-ready technologies. Its unrivaled capabilities significantly advance the effectiveness of the urban transport vehicle concept, and we are already in discussion with prospective customers wishing to apply the corner module in their future vehicles,” added Chan.