Heuliez, Michelin and Orange WILL have designed the most advanced electric vehicles presented on the show.
First put into circulation this fall and begin commercial production in 2010
Heuliez, Michelin and Orange have unveiled at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2008 on WILL, the first electric vehicle using the technology of Michelin Active Wheel (or second with Venturi Volage).
Heuliez The group, owned 60% by the Indian Argentum Motors, made its big comeback in the car with several projects which named Will; seems most successful.
Heuliez launched this project with the assistance of Oséo who made 3.8 million euros.
Heuliez has so far invested 12 million euros to develop a fleet of 10 vehicles. These vehicles will be able to travel 150 km before recharge or change batteries.
WILL designed based on an Opel Agila, the redesigned car in its entirety. Chassis, engine, links to the ground, connectivity and communication services, everything is new on this car, which demonstrates that concrete solutions to key problems of transportation exist: alternative to oil, reducing CO2 emissions, reducing energy consumption, response traffic congestion in town, a solution to noise and emissions, processing of travel time enjoyable and productive.
Nothing under the hood, while in the wheels!
Thanks to Michelin Active Wheel, the power leaves its traditional place ... and migrates in the wheels. Each of the front wheel WILL therefore integrates engine, electric unprecedented suspension, tires and braking device.
Five people may take place on board, although its size (3.70 m) does not exceed that of a compact car. The WILL offers two trunks, sufficient autonomy to consider even major routes (energy embedded module with 150 to 400 km autonomy) and more space for communications terminals.
Five times less energy consumption in the city and up to twenty times less CO2 emissions.
The WILL is a real car that is unbeatable in energy consumption. The energy efficiency of engines is 90%, when a traditional vehicle reached 20% at best in town. _ In addition, Heuliez has completely redesigned the chassis of the vehicle. This new design of the basement of the vehicle involved in the relief of all and hence to lower energy consumption. Moreover, with electricity from clean (hydroelectric, solar, wind, etc..) Emissions "to the wheel wells" are less than 15 grams of CO2 per km for WILL.
Zero emissions, simply!
No polluting emissions, while operating quietly, the city breathes again.
A rooster weight as secure as a super heavy.
The suspension electrically in the heart of the Michelin Active Wheel electrically monitors all movements of the chassis for stability and road-holding unprecedented. On the other hand, the trunk before (released in the presence of the engine) is dedicated to energy absorption in crashes. This little car is also much safer.
Always connected ... the right information at the right time!
Optimized Navigation through real-time traffic information, access to support services and maintenance with possible intervention distance, wireless and broadband Internet connection, etc.. With the expertise of Orange, the WILL becomes an extension of the house or office, and the vehicle itself as communicating.
WILL THE DRAFT VU IN ITS ENTIRETY
WILL embodies a new concept designed by Heuliez and Michelin. For its part, Orange is providing its innovative capabilities for services connected.
WILL stands out very strongly vehicles known to date. The first difference, size, that is no longer WILL engine installed at the front under the hood, but two electric motors placed in the front wheels. Its two engines give the vehicle a nice liveliness. The second major difference is that the suspension of the vehicle but is more mechanical power. Each wheel has an electric suspension with a time of extremely rapid response (3/1000ème second). All movements of roll or pitch are automatically corrected. The comfort level is totally unprecedented. The dress too.
WILL fully electric therefore, is more suited to urban uses or urban outside. The vehicle presentation at the Mondial de l'Automobile is presented in its family (5 seats) with lithium-ion batteries. Starting from 2010, four options available: an engine power by batteries or fuel cell vehicle for a commercial version or family .. For batteries, the choice exists between three power modules which will cover 150, 300 or 400 km. Depending on the needs of the user, it will be possible to move from one module to another on one vehicle, and as often as necessary. In other words, the autonomy WILL has become compatible with the expectations of every car at every moment.
WILL constitutes an obvious technological breakthrough. It provides elegant and effective response to critical issues of road transport, whether the energy (quantity, diversity, cost), emissions of greenhouse gases, the urban congestion, pollution urban.
Industrially, the project WILL be organized so that all stakeholders can combine their know-how.
- Heuliez, the first manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world, brings its expertise in designing chassis ensures the development and manufacture of vehicles.
- Michelin, No. 1 worldwide tire, with Active Wheel introduced a revolutionary technology to reinvent the wheel. For the first time, the wheel includes not only the tires and braking system, but especially the engine of the vehicle and its electrical suspension. Michelin hopes that this innovation will receive the same reception that the Group launched in 1895 with the success we know the car tire!
- Orange, the world leader in communications services, supports major and innovative in making the vehicle even more communicating. His goal is to make the car easier to live, safer and more respectful of an environment in which players interact as much as external factors. It is through greater intelligence, ie permanent connectivity of the car with its environment, that this challenge can be met.
For Heuliez, Michelin and Orange, the goal is a vehicle type will be industrially produced from 2010 (marketing for fleets, global) initiating a transfer inevitable road transport routes to more sustainable, but also much more pleasant today.
THANKS TO THE WILL, AN ENTIRELY NEW VEHICLE BECOMES REALIST
WILL disrupts the number of ideas that we believe could have definitely gained in the automotive world.
The key technology of Michelin Active Wheel is in the miniaturization of motor control and management of the suspension.
With its wheels Michelin Active Wheel, an electric vehicle can be completely rethought because all organs of the car are integrated into the wheel (engine, electric suspension, tires and brakes). Michelin Active Wheel and WILL open up new areas of creativity in six separate fields at least:
- Design;
- Saving energy and reducing pollution;
- Security;
- Comfort;
- Adapting the vehicle for his use;
- The potential of integrated communication services.
Since Michelin Active Wheel integrate the functions of engine and suspension, number of mechanical components required on traditional vehicles are no longer necessary: it is the tree transmission, gearbox, the anti-roll bars, etc. .
This simplification opens new perspectives in the design of vehicle design is thus freed from constraints that previously seemed immutable. More engine block, a reduction in mass, the ability to obtain future prototypes completely flat floor, a body dedicated to the living space and security.
The reduction of vehicle involved in turn to the sharp reduction of energy consumption.
Indeed, WILL be a 100% electric vehicle, it makes no polluting emissions during use. Its ecological impact depends solely to the production of electricity needed to recharge the batteries. For example, in a country where electricity is produced by hydro or from renewable energy sources, the use of the program will WILL indirect very low CO2 / km. In the case of Sweden, for example, would be less than 10 grams CO2 / km. In France, less than 20 grams. Less than 80 grams in Germany.
It also reinvented the wheel of a security force (ie, one that seeks to minimize the risk of accidents) unprecedented. The suspension integrated electric four-wheel independent makes it possible to manage well the phenomena of pitch and roll. The new electrical control is châssis the benefit of stability and road holding of the vehicle. As for passive safety (the one that protects accident), it should be noted that the location before, free from the presence of the engine is fully dedicated to energy absorption in crashes.
The permanent controls movement of the chassis and the silence of operation due to the electric motors provide overall ease of use unpublished. Passengers are also in a reduced two luggage carrier.
In his dynamic qualities WILL adds a potential communication hitherto unreported in the automotive world. It is the work of the operator Orange has identified three challenges:
- The first was to make a vehicle WILL communicating integrated into its "ecosystem";
- The second challenge was to develop a range of services specific to the driver to maximize comfort and safety;
- The third challenge was to achieve convergence of uses and multimedia services, thus extending their home and office in the vehicle, under optimal conditions of readiness.
The vehicle will enable communicating its driver and providers responsible for the technical maintenance of WILL receive advance notice. Thus, the exchange empty battery against the full will of optimally by the automatic warning the driver to the nearest station, depending on consumption measured in real time. In a second time, maintenance professionals can make diagnoses and interventions at a distance.
The device developed by Orange will participate in safety and the overall efficiency of the vehicle. Besides a hands-free telephony excellent acoustics, the driver can enjoy:
- Remote services (protection against theft, fleet monitoring, etc.).
- An intelligent navigation service integrating real-time traffic or weather information for a shift optimized for the benefit of saving energy and security;
- Local information with the support of ViaMichelin.
These will be combined with simultaneous emergency calls with triggering and automatic vehicle location.
The last strong point in terms of interactivity will be the inclusion in the WILL of a "live-box" dedicated to mobile vehicles, which will provide broadband Internet connectivity to all terminals used by the driver or passengers. The car becomes an extension of the home or office, depending on the services chosen.
FALL 2008 WILL THE FIRST ON THE ROAD
The first WILL be put into circulation as early as this autumn, soon joined by others who will test the alternatives, including energy & interior. It would be possible to propel the vehicle by batteries or fuel cells. Various configurations will be offered: vehicle with a family or business, with various levels of autonomy that can go 150 to 400 km.
From 2010, the assembly lines of Heuliez the plant Decker (in France) will be ready for commercial production, with a few thousand vehicles produced during the first year.
Michelin will supply all sets Active Wheel.
It is therefore a real industrial project which is launched for the first time a vehicle without a central engine will be marketed to professionals, fleets and communities. In a second step, marketing to the general public will be established.
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