As of: April 4, 2024, 4:00 p.m
By: Sabina Brosch
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Deep Drive develops a double rotor technology, innovative solutions with two product lines: a wheel hub and a central motor. © Deep Drive
The Garching start-up Deep Drive wants to revolutionize the automotive industry with its double rotor technology. With a patent that has it all.
Garching
– With the move of Deep Drive, the building at Carl-von-Linde Straße 23 in Garching is fully rented. Deep Drive wants to permanently change the automotive world and build the best electric motors available with a longer range and fewer rare earths in production. The high-tech start-up Deep Drive, founded in 2021, wants to rethink the electric car drive in a new and efficient way. While in most current electric cars the motor is placed between the axles, Deep Drive, based on its own patented double rotor technology, offers innovative solutions with two product lines: a wheel hub motor and a central motor.
The Deep Drive double rotor radial flow machine, used in both product types, consists of three concentric rings, with the outer two acting as rotors and the middle one being fixed. This technology requires 80 percent less iron and 50 percent less magnetic material, resulting in 30 percent lower manufacturing costs (per Nm) compared to conventional drives.
Gears become unnecessary
These twin rotors not only save space, they also eliminate the need for a gearbox, minimize friction and ultimately increase range. “This design offers an efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional electric motors for both wheel hub and central drives,” says Alexander Rosen, who specializes in drive systems for electric vehicles. In addition, the chassis is over 100 kilos lighter. The space saved makes it possible to have a larger battery, up to 20 percent, which means that a range of 300 kilometers is possible, especially for a small car, without the price having to increase.
Plans are already underway to integrate the wheel hub drive into the first vehicles. With this product it is particularly important to demonstrate in practice the comfortable and absolutely comparable driving experience that is known to date. “The integration of the wheel hub drive will not only improve the driving experience, but also significantly increase efficiency,” says Alexander Rosen. Since it doesn't need any drive shafts, the free space gained can be used for larger batteries. “Without having to increase the wheelbase,” says Rosen. A further range would be possible, but also new battery technologies whose volumetric energy density is not as good but which are cheaper, such as lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Met at the TUM motorsport team
Deep Drive, with its 60 employees, is a David in the large automotive business. The nucleus is seven men who met as students on the TUM motorsport team. They all come from a background in mechanical engineering, electrical and information technology or software development and, after completing their studies, worked for well-known automobile manufacturers such as Bosch, Audi or Infineon.
In 2021 they got together again, founded Deep Drive, tinkered, filed patents and built prototypes. “We are sure that we will revolutionize the automotive industry with our new drive,” says Managing Director Stefan Ender. They have already won merits and were named the “best Munich startup” in 2023. According to the laudation, the award for outstanding performance is due to the “revolutionary drive trains”.
Collaboration with automobile manufacturers
The interest from the automotive industry is there. Deep Drive is already working with eight of the ten largest automobile manufacturers, the first round of financing in February 2022 brought 4.3 million euros from UVC Partners, Bayern Kapital with the Bayern Growth Fund as well as angel investments from Peter Mertens, former CTO of Audi and Volvo, and Jonas Rieke , COO of Personio. In the second round of financing in March, BMW i Ventures and Continental's Corporate Venture Capital Unit, together with existing investors, invested over 15 million euros. In October 2023, Deep Drive and Continental officially announced their partnership to develop a wheel hub drive with an integrated brake.
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The key is the efficiency of electric vehicles
This collaboration combines Deep Drive's motor expertise with Continental's braking technology and aims to revolutionize vehicle electrification. For co-founder and managing director Felix Pörnbacher, the efficiency of electric vehicles is one of the biggest challenges facing all automobile manufacturers. Pörnbacher speaks of a key technology and sees Deep Drive as a pioneer of electrification for mobility.
The goal is to bring the technology onto the market in large-scale production by 2026. The move to Garching gives the company a boost and the opportunity to expand. New employees can also find space on the 4,000 square meters. Because new colleagues are needed, whether in technology and production, in administration or purchasing.
The Deep Drive team consists of passionate engineers and technology enthusiasts. They have a long-standing friendship. © Deep Drive