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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
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Paper ID:
IJSREM65918
Volume:
10 |
7 |
Jul 2026
Pages:
1-10
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Mechanical engineering
S.B.Patil College Of Engineering Indapur
Department of Mechanical engineering
S.B.Patil College Of Engineering Indapur
Department of Mechanical engineering
S.B.Patil College Of Engineering Indapur
The shift from internal combustion engines to electric propulsion platforms has unlocked unprecedented paradigms in vehicular dynamics control. Foremost among these advancements is the emergence of Quad Wheel Drive (QWD) and independent multi-motor electric all-wheel-drive configurations. By completely eliminating conventional mechanical links, including central propshafts, heavy transfer cases, viscous couplings, and hydraulic differentials, QWD systems introduce a software-defined propulsion topology. This review paper provides a exhaustive, multi-faceted engineering analysis of next-generation QWD architectures. We delineate the mechanical decoupling advantages of dual, triple, and quad-motor layouts, investigate the electro-mechanical dynamics of millisecond-level torque vectoring, and evaluate the mathematical formalisms underpinning electronic slip regulation. Furthermore, this paper conducts a comprehensive, data-driven technical comparison against conventional mechanical all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive powertrains across twenty technical vectors. Finally, we explore advanced intelligent terrain response control loops, analyze multi-wheel regenerative energy harvesting efficiencies, and deliberate upon the unresolved engineering bottlenecks—including unsprung mass penalties, power electronic thermal management, and functional safety fail-safes—critical to the next decade of high-performance electric vehicle development.
KEYWORDS
Quad Wheel Drive (QWD) and multi-motor electric all-wheel-drive systems represent a fundamental paradigm shift in automotive engineering, successfully virtualizing the entire vehicle drivetrain. By replacing rigid mechanical connections with high-speed electronic software control loops, QWD platforms achieve exceptional millisecond-level traction responses, infinite front-to-rear torque flexibility, and precise lateral yaw stabilization that completely surpasses the capabilities of conventional mechanical AWD/4WD systems. While traditional powertrains remain constrained by mechanical friction, high inertia, and structural packaging compromises, QWD technology unlocks a flat-floor chassis architecture, optimized 50:50 weight distribution, and highly efficient multi-wheel energy harvesting. As active global research continues to overcome the design hurdles of unsprung mass penalties, thermal management, and ASIL-D functional safety compliance, the software-defined QWD powertrain will solidify its position as the standard foundation for high-performance, secure, and intelligent mobility across the global transportation ecosystem.
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Publication Date
7/8/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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