- Japan's THK unveils LSR-05 EV prototype at 2024 Paris Motor Show
- The prototype has in-wheel motors and a wireless charging system
- The designer was Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura
A Japanese company that specializes in components that use vertical and horizontal motion has unveiled a prototype electric car that showcases some of its latest developments at this week's 2024 Paris motor show.
This company is THKand its LSR-05 prototype uses in-house technology in everything from the electric powertrain to the charging system to the suspension and even the seats.
The LSR-05 was first shown as a concept at the 2023 Tokyo motor show, but the version shown in Paris is a more advanced prototype with parts that could end up in production.
Highlights include seats that require much less installation space on the vehicle floor compared to standard seats, yet still deliver a lot of flexibility thanks to what TKH describes as a special actuator. This saves interior space, allowing for improved packing.
Example THK LSR-05
The prototype also uses in-wheel electric motors developed by THK. There is a rear wheel drive, rated at 125 hp each, that works together with a conventional electric motor driving the front axle, rated at 295 hp. The in-wheel motors, which also work together with the rear steering system, have a variable magnetic system that uses a very strong ball screw developed by THK. The configuration is similar to what Dongfeng has included in its Fengshen E70, billed by the Chinese automaker as the world's first passenger car with inner wheels.
Other technologies include an active suspension system with magnetic dampers, a brake-by-wire system, and a contactless charging system. The charging system relies on a power transmitter embedded in the ground, and a power receiver installed in the vehicle. Lowering the vehicle's height using the suspension system improves charging efficiency, making the power receiver smaller and lighter, according to THK.
Example THK LSR-05
Responsible for the design of the LSR-05 was SN DESIGN PLATFORM, a Tokyo-based design firm led by former Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura. Nissan fans will recognize Nakamura as a player designer of the original Leaf EVand the current GT-R sports car. He also designed or oversaw the design of additional models for Nissan and Infiniti while leading the creative teams for both brands from 1999-2017.
The LSR-05 is not the only EV designed by Nakamura and his team at the SN DESIGN PLATFORM in recent times. He died last year introduced EV Sport 01electric sports car concept built to showcase electric motors developed by Japanese technology company AIM. While AIM said it plans to build a business case to produce the EV Sport 01, THK has not made the same statement about its LSR-05, although THK said in a statement that it is working on a more advanced EV. prototype, to be called LSR-07.