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The BMW Startup Garage, in collaboration with Munich-based DeepDrive, is set to test a revolutionary electric motor featuring dual rotor technology. This innovative concept promises super-efficient, powerful drives with extended range. Following a successful pilot project, the BMW Group and DeepDrive will now conduct their first field test by integrating the new drive into BMW Group models.
Key Highlights:
- Dual rotor technology: Merges two electric motors into a single, compact unit.
- High torque density: Ensures energy efficiency and powerful performance.
- Versatile application: Suitable for both in-wheel and centralized drive systems.
- Early success: DeepDrive’s prototype exceeded BMW’s specifications.
- Scalability: Potentially attractive for a wide range of vehicle models.
- Collaboration: DeepDrive is also partnering with major suppliers like Continental.
DeepDrive’s innovative electric motor design is a game-changer, featuring a stator that drives both internal and external rotors simultaneously. This results in a compact, energy-efficient unit with high torque density. The lightweight design allows for an in-wheel drive system, where each wheel hub has its own motor, or a traditional centralized drive system powered by a central motor block.
BMW recognized DeepDrive’s potential early on, intensifying their collaboration since the IAA 2021. “DeepDrive’s prototype parts largely exceeded our specifications,” stated Karol Virsik, Head of Research Vehicle Concepts and Technologies at BMW Group. This level of maturity and performance is rare for such new technology.
After proving the concept on test rigs, BMW and DeepDrive are moving to real-world validation. The in-wheel motors are expected to be more space-efficient, energy-efficient, lighter, and cost-effective. “DeepDrive has developed an exciting vision for the electric drive of the future,” added Virsik. The Startup Garage allows BMW to explore and refine these next-generation drives.
In 2024, DeepDrive’s motor concept earned the German Innovation Award. Co-founder and co-CEO Felix Pörnbacher highlighted the significance of their partnership with BMW: “Collaborating with BMW gave us a springboard really early on. It helped us navigate the complex corporate world and meet and exceed the rigorous standards of the automotive industry. Our goal now is to get it integrated into a production model.”
The BMW Startup Garage operates as a venture client, bringing innovative technologies from startups into the BMW Group’s fold. Since its establishment in 2015, it has connected BMW with numerous startups, enhancing innovation, sustainability, and operational performance. “The BMW Startup Garage is an excellent opportunity to connect with startups. We then carry on working with the best of them,” said Virsik. Startups provide BMW with unconventional thinking and fresh perspectives, crucial for pioneering advancements in the automotive industry.
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