The BMW Startup Garage and Munich-based company DeepDrive are set to begin field-testing an innovative electric motor featuring dual rotor technology. This new concept promises super-efficient, powerful drives with extended range. Following a successful pilot project with promising test rig results, the BMW Group and DeepDrive are ready to trial the technology on the road.
DeepDrive’s breakthrough involves integrating two electric motors into a single compact unit. This dual rotor concept enables the stator to drive both rotors simultaneously, resulting in a highly energy-efficient drive with a high torque density. The design’s compactness and light weight make it suitable for in-wheel drive systems, where each wheel hub contains its own electric motor. Alternatively, it can be utilized in a centralized drive system, powering the vehicle from a central motor block.
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BMW has recognized the maturity and scalability of DeepDrive’s innovation. “DeepDrive’s prototype parts largely exceeded our specifications,” said Karol Virsik, Head of Research Vehicle Concepts and Technologies at BMW Group. “That’s really unusual at such an early stage and with a completely new technology.” This success on the test rig has paved the way for real-world validation, with various versions of the new drive set to be installed in BMW Group models for road testing.
DeepDrive’s motors promise several advantages, including reduced space requirements, higher energy efficiency, lighter weight, and lower costs. These benefits make the technology attractive for a wide range of vehicle models and highly scalable. “DeepDrive has developed an exciting vision for the electric drive of the future,” Virsik added. “The Startup Garage allows us to experiment with DeepDrive and work out what drives might look like in the generation after next.”
The collaboration has been instrumental for DeepDrive. “Collaborating with BMW gave us a springboard really early on,” said Felix Pörnbacher, co-founder and co-CEO of DeepDrive. “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.”
DeepDrive’s innovative motor concept has also garnered interest from other major manufacturers and suppliers, such as Continental. In 2024, the concept was honored with the German Innovation Award.
The BMW Startup Garage, established in 2015, functions as a venture client, bringing groundbreaking technologies from startups into the BMW Group’s innovation ecosystem. “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 are really important to us because they think unconventionally and out-of-the-box. They give us new perspectives.”
This collaboration between BMW and DeepDrive exemplifies how startups can accelerate innovation within established companies, paving the way for future advancements in electric vehicle technology.
Source: BMW Startup Garage to Road-Test Revolutionary E-Drive by DeepDrive
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