LEITNER, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ropeway systems, and Elaphe Propulsion Technologies Ltd. share part of the same DNA.

They are both pioneers in gearless electric motors, LEITNER, with its DirectDrive for ropeways and wind turbines applications, Elaphe in electric vehicles.

Together, the companies are enabling a new mobility solution – ConnX.

 

Elaphe and Leitner have decided on direct drive systems. But why not on more standard high-speed motors and reduction gears?

Both companies have developed high-pole pair electric machines to avoid the need for gear or transmission. One of the interesting and very important decision criteria for LEITNER to use a direct drive, instead of a normal drive, is the ease of maintenance, the high degree of efficiency and the high system availability for their customers. Elaphe decided for direct drive mostly due to robustness, energy efficiency and instant delivery of torque enabling superior vehicle dynamics functions.

Both LEITNER and Elaphe developed novel electromagnetic topologies, mostly driven by the need for a larger pole pair number to deliver more torque. This requirement also brought parallel challenges on some auxiliary components like position sensors and inverters.

Position sensors had to better define the relative angular positions of rotor and stator and inverters had to deliver higher currents. Solving such challenges gave both companies an edge compared to the competition.

It is interesting where have the companies met. In the field of new mobility solutions for urban areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LEITNER uses a direct drive motor to drive the ropeway and Elaphe uses a small size direct-drive motor for the rolling chassis to drive the gondola once decoupled from the rope.

Among many new ideas for new mobility solutions, this is the one that makes sense and is beyond renders in prototype solutions and with some serious customer interest.

It is a natural expansion for LEITNER and an interesting application for direct-drive in-wheel motors with the opportunity for complete propulsion and rolling system testing and validation in a controlled operating environment.

Both pioneers enable future mobility – resulting in ConnX.