Automobile Quote by William J. Mitchell
“Everybody thinks an automobile needs an engine. Well, an automobile doesn't necessarily need an engine. What we do is shift electric motors into the wheels of our automobiles and so we have a completely different kind of thing where we have four independent intelligent wheels rather than a traditional internal combustion engine and power train and so on.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: TED Talk on Future Mobility, 2005
Electric motors in each wheel can replace the traditional engine and drivetrain, creating independent intelligent wheels.
In simple terms: Wheels can be powered directly by electric motors, eliminating a central engine.
Key Takeaway
Consider redesigning vehicles with wheel‑mounted motors.
Themes
technology
innovation
transportation
Mood
forward‑thinking
technical
Type
technical
visionary
When to use this quote
- automotive design
- urban mobility
- sustainable transport
Key Concepts
electrification
distributed propulsion
systems engineering
Questions to Reflect On
- How would independent wheel control change vehicle safety?
- What infrastructure changes are needed for this technology?
A Different Perspective
Requires new control systems and infrastructure for widespread adoption.
![“We [MIT Smart Cities research group] try to identify the fundamental underlying design assumptions that everybody takes as a sort of given and unchallengeable when you think about solving these problems. And we try to challenge those assumptions.” quote by William J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a2b/william-j-mitchell-31611_assumption_we-mit-smart-cities-research-group-try-t_291234.jpg)
