Should EVs have six wheels?

[simonrockman]

EVs are big and heavy, the motors produce a lot of torque. Would six (or even eight) wheels suit them? One of the issues with more than four wheels is that as you turn they go through a slightly different radius but with electronic control this could be finely managed.

[mikeyr]

Would this add considerable extra weight? You'll be way more techy minded that me but I'm guessing four wheels is sweet spot otherwise we'd have seen more 6 wheel supercars (I did have a six wheel Scalextric F1 when little but didn't seem to help much as was always flying off the track under the sofa).

Assuming 6 wheels would make door shapes interesting too?

[mikeyr]

Did see this recently on the subject of wheels on EVs... https://www.driving.co.uk/news/hyundai-develops-cr...

[Nomme de Plum]

No

My EV is 1400kg.

BMW 4 series circa 1800/1900kg, Tesla Model 1750 Kg

Range Rovers are over 2T

These weights ICE or EV have negligible impact in comparison to vans and HGVs.

[krisdelta]

Weights aren't massively out of sync with other road vehicles. Our ID3 and my E class estate both weigh within 30kg of one another. Not sure I'd fancy 2 additional tyres to accrue nails.

[Nomme de Plum]

krisdelta said:

Weights aren't massively out of sync with other road vehicles. Our ID3 and my E class estate both weigh within 30kg of one another. Not sure I'd fancy 2 additional tyres to accrue nails.

Completely unnecessary. The extra wheels and suspension would just add more weight and cost.

I don't recall suggestions of this type being made with the ever increasing number of SuV that are common on our roads.

The ICE Toyota landcruiser can be 2900kg. Kerb weight. There is a whole host of Pick up trucks of similar weights on our roads already.

[simonrockman]

mikeyr said:

Did see this recently on the subject of wheels on EVs... https://www.driving.co.uk/news/hyundai-develops-cr...

It's one of those things that regularly get trotted out. I remember seeing a car which did this on Blue Peter when I was a kid. So that must have been pushing 50 years ago.

And that was hardly original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QilY00dCof8

[Evanivitch]

No. The UK axle load limit is much, much greater than the weight of a whole EV.

A better question should be do we provide incentives for smaller, aerodynamic, potentially 3-wheeled hyper efficient vehicles?

[mikeyr]

simonrockman said:

It's one of those things that regularly get trotted out. I remember seeing a car which did this on Blue Peter when I was a kid. So that must have been pushing 50 years ago.

And that was hardly original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QilY00dCof8

Be more fun to have a plane style undercarriage with sideways wheels that came down and could act as a dolly.

[dvs_dave]

It’s not necessary for reasons previously given. But as your primary concern seems to be weight related, then there’s still no reason for a third axle. You’d just make the rear axle a “dually”, ie twin wheels on each side like an HGV, or a heavy duty van.

[GT9]

simonrockman said:

EVs are big and heavy, the motors produce a lot of torque. Would six (or even eight) wheels suit them?

No, you forgot to account for gearing.

Here is a graph comparing the torque at the driven wheels of an EV vs a comparable ICE.

I wish people would stop trying to fix things they don't properly understand.

[thebraketester]

simonrockman said:

EVs are big and heavy, the motors produce a lot of torque. Would six (or even eight) wheels suit them? One of the issues with more than four wheels is that as you turn they go through a slightly different radius but with electronic control this could be finely managed.

Yes. I think 12 wheels would be optimal.

[Gesberg]

simonrockman said:

EVs are big and heavy, the motors produce a lot of torque. Would six (or even eight) wheels suit them? One of the issues with more than four wheels is that as you turn they go through a slightly different radius but with electronic control this could be finely managed.

So, is this the next Tesla?

[autumnsum]

A lot of american pickup trucks have 4 wheels at the back, that might work, it's a much more simple design too.

[jamei303]

Why not 5, the best of both worlds?

[blueST]

I think tracks, or maybe like a half-track would be best. If ground pressure is the concern, could go for hovercraft floatiness?

[Nomme de Plum]

autumnsum said:

A lot of american pickup trucks have 4 wheels at the back, that might work, it's a much more simple design too.

They're called fifth wheelers and many tow articulated trailers and caravans. Then there are those that need to carry 2T of weapons.

They do not belong in the UK.

[Evanivitch]

Nomme de Plum said:

They're called fifth wheelers and many tow articulated trailers and caravans. Then there are those that need to carry 2T of weapons.

They do not belong in the UK.

5th wheelers are a coupling, nothing to do with the tyres. Loads of vehicles in the UK have Dual Rear Wheels.

[Nomme de Plum]

Evanivitch said:

Nomme de Plum said:

They're called fifth wheelers and many tow articulated trailers and caravans. Then there are those that need to carry 2T of weapons.

They do not belong in the UK.

5th wheelers are a coupling, nothing to do with the tyres. Loads of vehicles in the UK have Dual Rear Wheels.

I know exactly what they are I lived in the states for a number of years. The 4 wheels at the back enabled a weighty trailer to be added via what they euphemistically call the 5th wheel. In the UK a typical hitch load is less than 100kg.

https://www.autonationdrive.com/research/articles/...

[OverSteery]

Evanivitch said:

Nomme de Plum said:

They're called fifth wheelers and many tow articulated trailers and caravans. Then there are those that need to carry 2T of weapons.

They do not belong in the UK.

5th wheelers are a coupling, nothing to do with the tyres. Loads of vehicles in the UK have Dual Rear Wheels.

Hence US pickups so equipped are called duallys.


And before someone else does it, here a picture of a panther P6...


It has to be said, not exactly a commercial success, but I still would like one.