Innovation Project Partner
Tesla would be a great partner. But let's not count out Mercedes.
From the EXRO News Release for the Innovation Project:
"The purpose of the collaboration is to determine the performance of Exro’s Coil Driver™ product 'FOR IMPROVING THE CONTINUOUS POWER AND TORQUE OUTPUT of the powertrain in the OEM’s vehicles...that would specifically fit into A DEFINED ELECTRIC MACHINE HOUSING.
The CD fulfills the first requirement. This allows one to use a smaller motor for tight spaces. (EXRO has previously talked about this)
So what is "innovative" and what is a defined housing.
One possibility is a compact motor for each wheel. Mercedes's future, premium SUV will employ this (
SUV EQG )
This frees up space for other uses and improves maneuverability,
including a G-Turn
Mercedes owns the (YASA) axial flux motor which is 1/5 the size of a radial motor and offers 4X the torque. It is unclear if it will be fitted in the EQG. However, Mercedes is committed to using it in its perfomance AMG cars.
A YASA motor uses permanent magnets. A YASA motor with a CD would be progressive An axial induction motor (no magnets), as discussed in the (academic) literature, with a CD, would be truly innovative.