Patent ID: 7495352

Claim:
A vehicle wheel device, comprising: a wheel; a shaft adapted to be secured to a bearing structure of the vehicle and about which the wheel is mounted to rotate, a reversible rotary electrical machine mounted coaxially about the shaft and adapted selectively to act as an electrical generator and an electric motor actuating the wheel, energy storage means adapted to be coupled to the electrical machine and comprising at least one rechargeable substantially planar or film battery applied to at least one lateral portion of the wheel and rotating rigidly with the wheel; photovoltaic converter means connected to at least one lateral portion of the wheel and adapted to convert the incident solar energy into electrical energy, and which are adapted to be coupled to the energy storage means; and electronic control means adapted to control the electrical machine and the energy storage means according to predetermined methods, the photovoltaic converter means and at least the one planar or film battery being applied to opposing surfaces associated with the wheel, wherein the electrical machine comprises an armature or primary rotor rotationally rigid with the wheel, and a secondary rotor, these rotors rotating with respect to the shaft, the electrical machine further comprising a stator or inductor rigid with the shaft, wherein the electrical machine can be driven so as to provide a continuously variable transmission ratio between a source of torque coupled to the wheel and the wheel.