2014

[Representing the world's first EV mobility equipped with the In-wheel Motor]

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has acquired the world's first license plate for the electric vehicle (EV) mobility “Q'mo”^*1 that is capable of driving on public roads as well as “pivot turn” and “lateral move.” The vehicle will be used to demonstrate the capabilities that the new-era microcompact electric commuter is capable of that conventional vehicles are not, while also expanding applications of the In-wheel Motor System and newly developed steering system.

In 2011, NTN first unveiled the “Q'mo I”^*2, a compact, two-seater electric commuter concept model powered with the In-wheel Motor which was planned and produced solely by young employees and female engineers. A joystick was used to control the proprietary 4-wheel independent steering system to highlight the advantage of futuristic vehicles by demonstrating the impressive “pivot turn” and “lateral move” features of the In-wheel Motor drive system.

In 2013, NTN announced the two-seater electric commuter “Q'mo II,”^*3 which added further practicality and was capable of urban driving. NTN proposed the “Multi Driving System” consisting of the In-wheel Motor System and a newly developed steering system, as a new drive system capable of driving safely as well as offering new types of movement.

Procedures were then made to register the “Q'mo II” equipped with this “Multi Driving System”, and as a result, NTN acquired a light vehicle license plate for the EV mobility “Q'mo,” the first of its type in the world capable of driving on public roads as well as “pivot turn” and “lateral move.”

NTN will continue to develop new markets for this new-era EV mobility “Q'mo” that can easily change direction on narrow roads or parallel park, as well as propose its underlying “Multi Driving System” and work together with manufacturers of completed vehicles and companies involved in the development of compact EV and personal mobility.

Test drive events will be held around the country to develop new applications for the “Q'mo,” which include driving short distances for shopping by families with small children and users of elderly drivers and for welfare use, as well as a zippy mode of transport for driving at facilities such as tourist spots, airports, plant sites or hospitals. These test drive events will also be used to call for new ways to use EV mobility to further improve functionality by fusing the “Multi Driving System” developed and provided by NTN with new technologies such as automated driving or automated parking systems for use as environmentally-friendly EV system products.

Features

Representing the future of EV mobility by maximizing the features of the In-wheel Motor drive system

Inquiries about this release

Vehicle photo

Demonstration (moving image)

“Q'mo” Demonstrating “Pivot Turn” and “Lateral Move”

Moving image provided by
The Asahi Shimbun Company

Multi Driving System

Achieves both driving stability on public roads and new types of movement

Vehicle specifications

History of the EV commuter equipped with the In-wheel Motor

November 2011	Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture	Driving demonstration of two-seater test EV equipped with the In-wheel Motor at the “Nationwide EV Summit in Shizuoka” organized by Shizuoka Prefecture (co-hosted by Iwata City and the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles)
December 2011	Tokyo	“Q'mo I” unveiled at the “2011 Tokyo Motor Show” as a compact, two-seater electric commuter concept model. Featuring a drive and steering mechanism combining the compact In-wheel Motor and compact wheel-turning actuator mounted in all four wheels
April 2012	Shizuoka Prefecture	Compact, two-seater EV equipped with the In-wheel Motor driven by Shizuoka Prefectural Governor Kawakatsu leads the opening ceremony of the “New Tomei Expressway”
June 2012	Annecy City*, France	Compact, two-seater EV equipped with the In-wheel Motor unveiled at the opening event of the “Annecy International Animated Film Festival” and used as transportation between each venue
June 2013	Annecy City*, France	Compact, two-seater EV equipped with the In-wheel Motor begins world's first public road demonstration project as the official vehicle of Annecy City, France (registered as “L7e” official standard for electric microcar in Europe)
August 2013	Shizuoka Prefecture	First microcompact, two-seater electric vehicle (EV) equipped with the In-wheel Motor registered as a light vehicle in Japan unveiled at “Mt. Fuji EV Festa” following the registration of Mt. Fuji as a world heritage site, began first public road demonstration project in Japan
October 2013	Ise City, Mie Prefecture	Began demonstration project as the first microcompact mobility equipped with the In-wheel Motor to be certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism under the “Ultra-compact Mobility Certification System” at the “Ise City Low Carbon Society Utilizing EV Establishment Council”
October 2013	Tokyo	“Q'mo II” unveiled at the “2013 Tokyo Motor Show” as a two-seater commuter model designed for urban driving. Featuring the “Multi Driving System” combining the In-wheel Motor with a newly developed steering system
September 2014	Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture	Began demonstration project of a microcompact mobility equipped with the In-wheel Motor as the official Iwata City vehicle

Reference

Evolution of the “Q'mo”

“Q'mo I” (unveiled in November 2011)

Planned and produced by female engineers, etc. themselves to enable the “pivot turn” and “lateral move” features of the In-wheel Motor drive system.

1. 4-wheel independent driving and steering
2. Joystick operation
3. Maximum speed 20km/h

Unveiled for the first time at
the Tokyo Motor Show 2011

“Q'mo II” (unveiled in November 2013)

A “Multi Driving System” was developed, consisting of the In-wheel Motor system and a newly developed steering system. This provided the “pivot turn” and “lateral move” features of the Q'mo I while also adding further practicality for urban driving.

1. 4-wheel independent driving and steering using the “Multi Driving System”
2. Maximum speed 70km/h

Demonstration of the “pivot turn” at
the Tokyo Motor Show 2013

“Q'mo” (unveiled in December 2014)

A license plate was acquired based on the Q'mo II and the Q'mo received vehicle registration as the first of its type in the world capable of driving on public roads as well as “pivot turn” and “lateral move”.

1. 4-wheel independent driving and steering using the “Multi Driving System”
2. The same function is possible in two rear wheel drive
3. Maximum speed 70km/h