Instrumentation of an Electronic–Mechanical Differential for Electric Vehicles with Hub Motors

This article presents the instrumentation of an electronic–mechanical differential prototype, consisting of an arrangement of three throttles to operate two hub motors on the rear wheels of an electric vehicle. Each motor is connected to its respective throttle, while a third throttle is connected in series with the other two. This configuration allows for speed control during both rectilinear and curvilinear motion, following Ackermann differential geometry, in a simple manner and without the need for complex electronic systems that make the electronic differential more expensive. The differential throttles are strategically positioned on the mass bars connected to the steering system, ensuring that the rear wheels maintain the appropriate differential ratio. For this reason, it is referred to as an “electronic–mechanical differential”. Additionally, this method can be extended to a four-wheel differential system.