Donut Labs’ 845-horsepower hub motor powers everything

The obvious disadvantage of hub motors like this is that they increase the unsprung mass of the vehicle

Most electric cars on the market have electric motors between the wheels, but a company called Donut Labs just unveiled an in-wheel electric motor that could shake up the future of electric cars. This interesting motor, now in its second generation, can be used in any type of vehicle and is 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 engine shown at CES is housed in a 21-inch ring and packs a punch, delivering up to 845 horsepower and 3,171 pound-feet (4,300 Nm) of torque. However, this is not a typical torque figure and may be calculated at the wheels rather than the crankshaft as in internal combustion engines. Still, the motor packs a serious punch, and what’s even more impressive is that it weighs just 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

Read: BMW tests revolutionary electric motor that could power mystery coupe

Vehicles using these hub motors will need one at each corner, and Donut eliminates the need for traditional half-shafts, constant velocity joints and other components typically used on cars. While this all sounds pretty great, it’s worth noting that in-wheel motors add a lot of unsprung mass to the vehicle, and this is no exception.

Donut Labs is also launching four other hub motors, each in different sizes. One is for semi-trucks, offering 268 horsepower and 2,212 pound-feet, another is a 12-inch unit for a 20-horsepower electric scooter, and there’s a smaller 4.7-inch motor for a 4-horsepower drone, as well as a 17-inch The motor is designed specifically for motorcycles and has a power of 201 horsepower.

Donut Labs believes that the global electric transportation market may grow from US$550 billion to US$4.4 trillion by 2032, and its motors are already used in a variety of vehicles. For example, its parent company Verge Motorcycles produces electric motorcycles, and a Latvian company called Oruga also produces off-road electric vehicles equipped with electric motors. Australian company 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 resource requirements for vehicle development by up to 95% compared to current levels.”