Wheel

​Although Teslas may get a lot of attention, many EVs are actually small cars designed solely for urban use, made by struggling startup companies. A new wheel module could help increase the economic viability of building such vehicles, by simplifying the design and production processes.

​In a demonstration of what could be commercially possible within the near future, HRE Wheels recently teamed up with GE Additive’s AddWorks team to create the first-ever titanium wheel to be 3D-printed via Electron Beam Melting. The process is said to be more efficient than traditional machining.

​If you're looking at converting your standard bicycle into an e-bike, there are now several makes of powered front wheels to choose from. You might want to hold off on making your choice, though, as the crowdfunding campaign for yet another – the EvoWheel – is starting this week.

This airless tire has some interesting advantages. Air Suspension Wheels can't go flat or get punctures, you can change treads with a spanner and no jacks, and they offer some interesting dynamic capabilities that could see them being very useful in large mining applications and even wheelchairs.

The Revolve wheel folds to a third of its diameter and back in an instant, yet provides a safe, stable, full-size 26-inch wheel for a folding bicycle or wheelchair. Announced this week in Munich, the Revolve will enable a renaissance in folding vehicle design

​It was back in 2009 that we first heard about the Copenhagen Wheel, a motor-equipped rear bicycle wheel that could turn an existing bicycle into an e-bike. The years since saw some delays, but as of this April it finally became commercially available. We recently tried the wheel out for ourselves.

​​Of all the cycling gadgets we've had the chance to test, the GeoOrbital Wheel has got to be one of the most fascinating. It's an electric front wheel that instantly converts your existing bike into an e-bike, and it looks like it belongs in the upcoming Blade Runner sequel.

​Hill-climbing may be a great workout for cyclists, but, well … not everyone has a hilly road nearby. That's why Australian cyclist Michael Freiberg created the AIRhub. Sold as a complete front wheel, its hub incorporates an electromagnetic brake that creates up to 100 watts of resistance.

​Why buy an e-bike, when you can just replace your regular bike's front wheel with one that has an electric motor? That's the thinking behind recent products such as the Omni Wheel and Electron Wheel. UrbanX has now also thrown its hat in the ring, with its lightweight Eco and Booster wheels.

Boston Dynamics has officially unveiled its latest robot after footage leaked earlier in February. Known as "Handle" the new research robot incorporates elements from the company's Altas robot, but achieves more efficient mobility by adding wheels and a significantly less complex joint system.

If you thought the legged robots from Boston Dynamics were scary enough, you might want to click away now. Described by company founder Marc Raibert in a presentation to investors as "nightmare inducing," the new robot ​takes all your fears of a robopocalypse and puts them on wheels.

Aero wheels are excellent at cutting down on drag in a straight line, but they can be tricky to handle in a crosswind. Zipp's new 454 NSW Carbon Clincher has been designed with efficiency in mind, using shapes from nature for less aerodynamic drag and buffeting than regular aero wheels.