Continuing our innovation week

Continuing our innovation week, here is a subject that looks at how technological innovations can be applied to ecological vehicles. Renault is always looking for solutions to cut the greenhouse gas emissions of road vehicles. For the VELROUE project, it joined forces with Michelin and the IFP (French institute of petroleum). The objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of a dual-mode LCV with electric motors driving the rear wheels by creating a research demonstrator.


Co-financed by the ADEME (French environment and energy management agency) , VELROUE is a joint project developed by Michelin, Renault and the IFP. The three technical partners have built a demonstrator based on the Renault Kangoo, with electric motors placed next to the rear wheels. This dual-mode vehicle features:
an electric mode with two battery-powered Michelin in-wheel motors on the rear axle for driving in electric mode in the city, a hybrid mode optimized for extra-urban consumption and with the range of conventional vehicle.




This project brings multiple benefits:

First, it combines the advantages of electric vehicles with the range of ICE vehicles. The dual-mode vehicle has the characteristics of an electric vehicle in the city, while maintaining the potential of a combustion engine. From a technical standpoint, vehicle dynamics are improved in that the torque applied to each rear wheel can be controlled independently to enable a four-wheel drive mode.
From a cost standpoint, the electric motors can be positioned close to the rear wheels without making any major changes. This limits the investments necessary in production. The fuel tank, power electronics and battery placed under the vehicle maintain interior space and an identical load volume.
The dual-mode vehicle also brings significant ecological benefits. With a recharged battery, the vehicle can travel around 50 km every day in electric mode. For a van such as Trafic, this would save 900l of diesel fuel, representing around 2.5 tCO2/vehicle/year.
This partnership, which was set up in 2009, has taught us a great deal about systems engineering in particular. This approach has enabled the three partners to develop three working demonstration vehicles that meet initial specifications, without iteration, and while respecting the schedule and budget. A great adventure, explains Jean Van-Frank, innovation project manager at the DREAM.