An electric wheel vehicle propulsion system has several potential advantages in the area of mobility, vehicle-design flexibility, engine operation flexibility, adaptability to a variety of powerplants, and the accomplishment of multiple functions. Such a system, which consists of six wheel-mounted brushless self-synchronous motors powered by an engine-driven alternator, has been applied to an M-35 truck as a testbed vehicle.
This paper describes the testing of the electric-wheel testbed; the results of special interest relate to fuel economy, dynamic braking, wheel speed control, stability at low speeds, gradeability, mobility under off-highway conditions, and durability. These results give rise to the possible future application of this type of electric drive to a variety of special military and commercial vehicles.