NTN’s Microcompact Mobility Equipped with In-wheel Motor to be Used at Welfare Facilities in Shizuoka Prefecture

Provided to welfare service businesses for feedback such as ease-of-use in daily life NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) hereby announces that the two-seater EV (microcompact mobility) equipped with its proprietary “In-wheel Motor System” will be used for the first time by welfare facilities in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture. The vehicle received certification as the first microcompact mobility in the Shizuoka prefecture by the Chubu District Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in September 2014. After NTN delivered the vehicle to Iwata City the same month, it was not only used as an official prefectural and city vehicle as part of a demonstration drive mainly in Iwata City and around the prefecture, but was also made available for member companies of the Iwata Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The vehicle was provided to the Iwata City Regional Comprehensive Support Center that covers welfare-related projects, and is planned to be used when staff visit households with elderly people or those requiring nursing care in seven districts throughout the city from February 3 to the end of September this year. The Iwata City Regional Comprehensive Support Center is a key center for care prevention, and is an institution with experts in the insurance, nursing and welfare industries that elderly people can discuss various issues, while cooperating with regional medical institutions and nursing service businesses. NTN delivered five units of Japan’s first microcompact mobilities equipped with the “In-wheel Motor System” to Ise City in Mie Prefecture in October 2013 and has since conducted demonstration drives mainly with the cooperation of local municipalities, however this is the first time the vehicle will be used in the welfare field. NTN will collect driving data as well as feedback on ease-of-use in daily life, and apply these to make further improvements and technical developments. In-wheel Motor System and the Two-seater Microcompact Mobility Features of the In-wheel Motor System for Compact EVs Effective use of free space and greater design flexibility (1) Compact in-wheel motor module A thin hub bearing has been used, allowing it to be mounted within the wheel. (2) Drivetrain integrated into a systemized unit Drive motor, reducer, hub bearing, and control system (including inverter) (3) Independent control of drive power to left and right wheels