- The motors have been developed in different sizes and suit a slew of applications.
- The largest 21-inch motor weighs just 40 kg (88 lbs) yet packs a serious punch.
- Other motors suit electric scooters, motorcycles, drones, and aircraft.
Most electric vehicles on the market have electric motors located between the wheels but a company named Donut Labs has just unveiled an in-wheel motor that could shake up future EVs. This intriguing motor, now in its second generation, can be used by any type of vehicle and can be produced in a variety of different sizes. Donut Labs also says its solution can significantly speed up the development cycle of electric vehicles.
The flagship motor presented at CES fits into a 21-inch loop and packs some serious punch, churning out up to 845 hp and 3,171 lb-ft (4,300 Nm). That’s not a typical torque figure, however, and is likely calculated at the wheels rather than at the crankshaft like an ICE. Nevertheless, the motor still packs a serious punch, which is made all the more impressive because it weighs just 40 kg (88 lbs).
Read: BMW Tests Revolutionary Electric Motors That Could Power Mysterious Coupe
Vehicles using these in-wheel motors would need one at each corner, and Donut could eliminate the need for traditional half-shafts, CV joints, and other components typically used by cars. While this all sounds rather wonderful, it’s worth noting that in-wheel motors add a significant amount of unsprung mass to a vehicle, and it’s no different here.
Four other in-wheel motors have also been presented by Donut Labs, each in different sizes. One is catered towards semi-trucks and delivers 268 hp and 2,212 lb-ft, another is a 12-inch unit for electric scooters with 20 hp, there’s a tiny 4.7-inch motor for drones with 4 hp, and a 17-inch motor designed for motorcycles and producing 201 hp.
Donut Labs believes the global electric transportation market could grow from $550 billion to $4.4 trillion by 2032, and its motors are already used by several vehicles. For example, its parent company – Verge Motorcycles – produces an electric motorcycle, and a Latvian company dubbed Oruga also manufactures EVs designed for off-roading with its motors. Australian firm Hyper Q Aerospace also uses these trick motors in its electric aircraft.
When combined with Donut’s in-house platform, the innovative new motors can apparently “reduce the resource requirements for vehicle development by up to 95% compared to the current level.”
