Donut Lab, a subsidiary of Finland-based Verge Bikes, claims to have a motor with the highest energy density of any such unit on the planet.
At CES 2025, Donut Lab introduced it had achieved this feat with donut-shaped motors designed to be built-in with a automobile’s wheels and tires. This provides unsprung mass, which might make tuning for journey and dealing with tough, however Donut claims that is minimized by the sunshine weight of its motors.
The corporate plans to supply a household of 5 motors for various designs, together with a 21-inch-diameter automotive model that produces 844 hp and three,171 pound-feet. Nonetheless, it additionally weighs 88 kilos—nonetheless lots of unsprung mass. For a similar weight, Donut Lab additionally has a 21-inch motor designed for semi vans that produces 268 hp and a pair of,212 lb-ft.
Donut Lab electrical motors
Shifting down in measurement, a 17-inch bike motor that weighs 46 kilos produces a claimed 201 hp and 885 lb-ft. There’s additionally a 12-inch, 17-pound scooter motor rated at 20 hp and 221 lb-ft. Donut Lab even has a 4.7-inch motor designed for drones that generates 4 hp and 14 lb-ft.
By extracting extra energy from a smaller bundle, Donut Lab believes it can decrease the price of manufacturing electrical automobiles through the use of much less materials. To make that simpler, it is providing these motors as a part of an entire platform together with battery packs, management items, and software program—though it hasn’t confirmed how these motors stand with respect to effectivity.
In-wheel motors aren’t new. Porsche not too long ago reminded us that it has been engaged on them for a very long time—over a century, actually. Even Ferrari has thought of a sort of in-wheel motors.
Donut Lab electrical motors
However makes an attempt to commercialize in-wheel motors have been combined. They’re at present utilized in at the least one Chinese language-market sedan, however startups Lightyear and Lordstown Motors stalled earlier than getting them into U.S.-market manufacturing automobiles. That leaves Aptera, which had initially seen in-wheel motors as an effectivity play for its electrical 3-wheeler.
Relating to standard motors, Lucid has the lightest in a manufacturing EV, at about 68 kilos every. That automaker’s core propulsion expertise is ready for use in future Aston Martin EVs.
