The Canadian company LyteHorse Labs has found that electric vehicles (EVs) perform well in off-road environments. The company has designed a new type of all-terrain EV that is suitable for a wide range of applications and it features lubrication-free igus bearings that make the vehicle maintenance-free and corrosion-free, even in the most inhospitable environments.

Because with four independent hub motors, an off-road EV can have a switchable all-wheel drive for maximum strength and traction, making it the ideal companion in a wide range of applications. Using the igus tribopolymers, it is light, lubrication-free, corrosion-free and is particularly low-maintenance.

The LyteHorse solution can transport 350kg on pavements and stairs in the city. But it can also be used in the great outdoors. For example, by the police, for rescue operations in rough terrain, underground in mines, in warehouses or in forestry operations.

To ensure that it can be used without any problems in very different environmental conditions, the durability and freedom from maintenance of the installed components were particularly important to the designers.

After extensive testing with steel and nylon bushings, LyteHorse Labs turned to lubrication-free and maintenance-free polymer bearing technology from igus and used it in the suspension and steering.

“We couldn’t achieve our requirements with conventional bearings because they are susceptible to dirt, salt water and extreme temperatures,” LyteHorse Labs chief executive Allen Bronk explains.

“In the end, the flanged bushings we used made of iglidur J convinced us in terms of performance, durability, reliability and cost. Without the advice from igus, we would certainly not be where we already are today with the product.”