Hyundai has recently made a prototype Ioniq 5 that demonstrates a rather interesting feature – the ability to drive sideways!
Coming from Hyundai Mobis, the division of the brand that focuses on parts and developing autonomous driving, the e-Corner system was installed in the special Ioniq 5 to showcase its capabilities. The system involves each wheel having its own electric motor, electronic damper, and brake and steer-by-wire controls. All of this allows each wheel to drive, stop, and turn independently. It also means that the wheel modules can be freely fitted to different body styles without taking up space in the rest of the vehicle.
As each wheel can turn and drive independently, the e-Corner system allows the vehicle to drive in some very interesting ways. For example, all the wheels can turn 90 degrees which means you can move your vehicle sideways, in and out of a space that would usually require parallel parking. The system also allows you to turn your car on the spot by swivelling the wheels outward before driving them in opposite directions.
An Improved But Not Entirely New Technology
The e-Corner technology isn’t completely new as there have been other manufacturers that have experimented with using individual wheel motors in the past. However, this is the first time that full 90-degree steering is possible.
There still aren’t too many details available for this potentially industry-changing system. So far, Hyundai has said that it could be available around 2025 but there are still some obstacles to overcome before this becomes a reality. Getting the same levels of performance that are currently offered by existing EV technology seems to be a big focus.
Something else to consider is that drivers have been able to get by with a lot less complicated systems than this. While parallel parking would, undoubtedly, be made easier, some will see the e-Corner system as nothing more than a gimmick. That being said, the turning capabilities could certainly make driving on busy or narrow roads a whole lot easier.
