Mygreenwheels

"It felt like riding in a helicopter. The body was tilting, but the wheels were still on the ground. I'm a car product planner and I thought I'd driven everything, but never anything like this. The suspension and stability were amazing."

That's what Ash Gupta had to say about taking a ride back in March this year in a 4-wheel drive electric car powered by Michelin's Active Wheel technology. As far as he is concerned nothing else even comes close in terms of in-wheel motors.

Michelin have had this technology since 2004, but it's only now that they're talking about putting it into vehicles for commercial production. As a collaboration between Michelin, French coachbuilder Heuliez and French telecom brand Orange, the WILL 5-seater electric car is now planned to appear in 2010 in four versions - battery or fuel-cell powered, for commercial or family use. It's powered by 2 Michelin Active Wheels, each of which comprises a motor, a 'revolutionary' suspension system, a tyre and brakes. So what do you do with all that space where the engine normally goes?

The WILL looks small, but with all that freed-up space it can seat 5 and has two trunks. It's also got loads of space for communication equipment as Orange is making sure that this is a fully networked vehicle - it comes with wireless phone, high speed browser, optimised navigation that sends you road traffic data in real time, access to maintenance and assistance ... all that stuff.

It's also going to have different range options - 150, 300 or 400 kms depending on which modular energy source you choose. And you can change from one module to another to suit your changing needs at any time.

The WILL may not look like anything special, but I still think it looks like a winner with this combination. So far pricing looks like being in the range of £16,500-£20,700/$27,000-$34,000.

BTW - you'll also find this Active Wheel technology on the 4-wheel drive Venturi Volage, but I can't see that one getting many orders outside California or the Riviera.