I propose a new car, one designed to run without the need for moving parts within its body (except the shocks, I can't think how to make them not move).
I have done some initial research, and in order to do this (levitate the car axle within the wheel, and use a magnetic drive system) we would need
only a very acceptable amount of power.
There are four concepts at work here:
1. The car can be levitated using an electromagnetic axle or bearing, using only a kilowatt per ton of car (keep in mind that this is spread out over the four wheels). I got that quote from Kingsbury Inc., an industrial magnetics company.
2. Within the wheel, attached to the axle, would be a bearing or disc, with rings of electromagnets around it. A charge could be run around the axle, which could push (and pull?) the wheel. This disc would be encased by the wheel itself, and the disc would reach out to the very outermost part of the wheel, allowing for the maximum torque possible with a car's wheels (the driving magnets would be mounted at the out edge of the disc). Since the disc would be attached to the levitated axle, there would be no contact between the car and it's wheels, thereby eliminating friction (yeah I know that doesn't do too much, but look at #3). I wanted to know whether the drive system was possible, so I checked how much power a Prius uses. 50 kw. I assume that the remaining 46+ kw (after the levitation has been accounted for) would be enough power to move a car wheel.
3. By eliminating the need for a conventional motor, a transmission, and just about everything else gas-related in a car, a lot of weight could be lost from the car. While some of this would be gained back in batteries, I expect that there would be a net loss of weight.
4. All co-ordination of the magnetic drive and levitation systems could be handled by computers, allowing for a fully customizable drive system (think about racing where you can control each wheel independently!)
I am looking for input for the further development of this idea. If you think something doesn't work, tell me why, and how you think I should change it.