Ferdinand Porsche’s revolutionary wheel-hub motor, first introduced in 1900, laid the groundwork for electric vehicle technology. Debuting at the Paris Exposition, the Lohner-Porsche electric car marked a turning point in automotive history. It showcased a modular design that integrated electric motors into the wheels—a concept that would later inspire NASA’s lunar rovers nearly 70 years later.
Key Highlights
- Groundbreaking debut: The Lohner-Porsche electric car premiered in 1900 with innovative wheel-hub motors, eliminating the need for an intermediate transmission.
- Advanced engineering: Each wheel motor delivered 2.5 PS, with the car achieving a top speed of 32 km/h and featuring all-wheel braking—a significant milestone for the era.
- First hybrid vehicle: Porsche pioneered the Semper Vivus, the world’s first functional hybrid car, combining gas and electric drives to address battery limitations.
- Long-term impact: NASA’s lunar rovers during the Apollo missions utilized wheel-hub motor technology inspired by Porsche’s early designs.
The Birth of the Wheel-Hub Motor
At just 24 years old, Ferdinand Porsche collaborated with Jacob Lohner & Co. in Vienna to create a vehicle with integrated wheel-hub motors in the front wheels. This innovation was so impactful that it earned the name “System Lohner-Porsche.” The motors came in three sizes with up to 12 PS per wheel, enabling use in passenger cars, buses, and heavy trucks. The vehicles had a range of approximately 50 kilometers, powered by lead batteries.
Porsche’s foresight extended to motorsports, where he introduced the world’s first all-wheel-drive race car in 1900, the “La Toujours Contente,” featuring four wheel-hub motors delivering 14 PS each.
The First Functional Hybrid Car
Porsche addressed the challenges of limited battery range and a lack of charging infrastructure by developing the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus, a hybrid vehicle combining a four-cylinder gas engine with a generator to supply electricity. The hybrid’s success led to the production of approximately 300 vehicles, which were used as fire engines, taxis, and private cars.
Legacy of Porsche’s Innovation
While the wheel-hub motor proved unsuitable for mass production, its pioneering design reemerged in NASA’s lunar rover program during the 1970s, demonstrating its lasting relevance. Reflecting on Porsche’s work, Ludwig Lohner remarked, “That’s a man who has a very big career ahead of him. You’ll hear a lot about him in the future.”
Ferdinand Porsche’s early innovations not only transformed the automotive landscape but also provided a foundation for modern electric and hybrid vehicles, leaving an enduring legacy in engineering excellence.
Source: Porsche
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