New in-wheel motor promises to make electric vehicles lighter and more autonomous (and is cheaper)

The innovation creates more space in the car for passengers and cargo and makes vehicles lighter. The manufacture of these engines is also 50% cheaper.

Electric motor manufacturer Donut Lab unveiled its second-generation all-wheel drive units at CES 2025, showing a breakthrough in electric car design.

The innovative “motor donut”, with a hollow center that fits perfectly into a wheel, promises significant advances in weight reduction, increased autonomy and greater design flexibility.

Historically, electric vehicles have been heavily inspired by the designs of internal combustion engine vehicles, which makes adoption easier for consumers. However, the Donut Lab wheel motor breaks this paradigm, offering a compact solution that eliminates the need for an engine inside the vehicle body.

This design opens up new possibilities for vehicle architecture, increasing passenger and cargo spacewhile enabling bold, futuristic vehicle designs.

Donut Lab’s latest motor is designed for a 21-inch wheel and delivers up to 630 kW (845 horsepower). With only 40 kgweighs about a third of a traditional electrical transmission unit. The reduced weight, combined with the elimination of transmission components such as axle shafts, can lead to substantial efficiency gains, potentially increasing the range of electric vehicles.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process of these engines is 50% cheaper due to the smaller number of components needed, which can translate into more economical cars, points out .

Although the engine reduces the overall weight of the vehicle, it adds unsprung mass – weight below the suspension – which can affect handling and braking. Despite this commitment, the technology shows promise, with Donut Lab already using a variant of the motor in electric bicycles produced by its parent company, Verge Motorcycles.

Donut Lab also revealed a version of the engine for trucks, with 200 kW. This marks a significant step towards the electrification of heavy vehicles.

Competition in the wheel motor sector is heating up. BMW, in collaboration with DeepDrive, unveiled its own dual-wheel drive last year, which is still being tested. Donut Lab’s advancements, however, could position it as a leader in this transformative electric vehicle technology.