DETROIT— Protean Electric will showcase its award-winning Protean Drive system in a BRABUS Hybrid at the SAE 2012 World Congress this week at Cobo Center. The event will mark the BRABUS Hybrid’s premier North American appearance.
Protean Electric Chairman and CEO Bob Purcell will unveil the BRABUS Hybrid on Tuesday and announce several new global partners that will accelerate its in-wheel electric drive systems to market in high-volume production.
BRABUS, the highly acclaimed independent automobile tuner, chose Protean’s electric in-wheel motors to power its “Technology Project Hybrid” based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The BRABUS Hybrid vehicle is equipped with two Protean Drive wheel motors, which power the rear wheels, along with the vehicle’s clean diesel engine.
Protean Drive is an advanced in-wheel electric drive system for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. Company officials say Protean Drive can improve fuel economy by up to 30 percent in a plug-in hybrid application.
Each Protean motor adds 80 kW (110 hp.) and 800 Nm (590 ft.-lbs.) of peak torque, which, when combined with the 2.2-liter common-rail turbo-diesel engine, give the BRABUS Hybrid an acceleration of 0-100 km/hr. (0-62 mph) in 7.4 seconds and 60-120 km/hr. (37-75 mph) of 5.6 seconds.
“We’re pleased to work with BRABUS to demonstrate what Protean’s in-wheel electric drive can deliver to the world,” Protean CEO Bob Purcell said. “Our in-wheel motors not only provide significant performance improvement, but do so in a very responsible way.”
The SAE 2012 World Congress runs Tuesday through Thursday at Cobo Center.
