- Lighter, more powerful and affordable in-wheel motors are on the horizon
- Elaphe Propulsion Technologies presents a 2,000 HP supercar concept
- Donut Lab says its motors can power a variety of products
Most modern electric vehicles use an electric motor that drives either the front or rear axle, or both if equipped with all-wheel drive and two motors. This works perfectly well, but it is not the most efficient solution, as energy (and therefore battery range) is lost due to mechanical friction through the transmission, driveshafts and so on.
What’s more, auto designers and engineers are relatively limited in how they can package new vehicles, having to fit the plumbing necessary for a bulky electric powertrain.
The next big development in the field of electric vehicles is the introduction of in-wheel motor (IWM) technology, which has been around for decades but has taken a long time to perfect to a point where it can be introduced affordably and realistic on production cars.
Donut Lab, a subsidiary of Verge Motorcycles, the futuristic electric motorcycle brand that pioneered integrated motor technology in high-performance two-wheeled transportation, showed off the latest generation of its technology at this year’s CES 2025, and has the potential to change the game again.
In-wheel motor technology has been considered too expensive, underpowered and bulky for mass-produced cars, as an enormous amount of weight is essentially placed in an area (the wheels) that must be as light as possible: a Concept called “unsprung mass” by automotive experts and which refers to anything that is not supported by the vehicle’s suspension system.
It plays a critical role in how a vehicle handles, but Donut Lab says its latest engine technology can be as light as 40kg and yet deliver a power-to-weight ratio that far exceeds anything currently on the market. market. Unsprung mass becomes a moot point.
The company’s CEO, Marko Lehtimäki, claims that a 21-inch automotive-spec version can deliver a power output of 630 kW, which is equivalent to 845 hp. Multiply that figure by four and the next generation of supercars could easily produce 3,380 horsepower, if manufacturers can figure out how to transfer that power to the road below.
Silly supercar daydreams aside, the technology will most likely be used in a more restricted way, with a pair of lightweight, less powerful in-wheel motors driving the rear wheels, which could still produce between 600 and 800 horsepower, without the associated costs.
There is a 17-inch version for motorcycles, which delivers around 200 horsepower (which is on par with most modern superbikes) and only weighs 21kg, while a 12-inch version weighs just 8kg.
Lehtimäki says his company has managed to achieve class-leading performance with “a smaller amount of active materials,” meaning manufacturers can jump on the in-wheel motor bandwagon and save up to 50 percent on manufacturing costs. manufacturing compared to traditional electric vehicles. engines.
Analysis: The wheels are in motion
Donut Lab wasn’t the only in-wheel motor pioneer on display at CES this year, as Slovenian firm Elaphe Propulsion Technologies also showed off its ultra-thin Sonic 1 hardware that’s capable of developing 268 hp, while leaving plenty of headroom. inside a 21 inch wheel. for standard high performance disc brakes.
This would make the engines suitable for use in high-performance driving situations, such as on the race track, where reliable and predictable braking power is essential.
The company showed off its technology in the Italdesign Quintessenza concept, which takes the form of a futuristic hybrid electric truck/SUV that includes a Sonic 1 motor in each wheel that generates more than 2,000 hp.
Elaphe says it is working on mass production concepts that it hopes to develop together with OEMs. However, don’t expect to see a production version until 2030 or later.
Despite those long timelines, the race is on to be the first to introduce in-wheel motors to the buying public. BMW announced last year that it was working with Munich-based electric motor engineers DeepDrive to develop in-wheel motor technology that could be scaled up to a point where it makes financial sense for mass-produced electric vehicles.
Similarly, serial innovator Hyundai Motor Group has been working and perfecting its ‘Uni Wheel’ technology since 2023.
There hasn’t been any update on recent progress, but the Korean company said the technology could completely change the way it packages electric vehicles in the future, helping it improve battery range and greatly increase the durability of its power units. engine.
