Inside The Wheels, Outside The Box: Donut Labs’ EV Innovation Shines At CES

Donut Labs has unveiled a revolutionary in-wheel motor that has the potential to revolutionize the future of electric vehicles. This motor, now in its second generation, fits a variety of vehicles and comes in multiple sizes. The company says it can significantly cut down the time it takes to develop new EVs.

At CES, Donut Labs showed off their flagship model, a 21-inch motor that packs an incredible 845 horsepower and 3,171 lb-ft (4,300 Nm) of torque. Despite its impressive output, the motor weighs just 40 kg (88 lbs), making its performance all the more remarkable.

These motors fit directly inside the wheels, meaning there’s no need for traditional components like half-shafts and CV joints. This simplifies the design and could reduce manufacturing costs. However, the added unsprung weight could be a challenge for handling and ride quality, something engineers will need to fine-tune.

The company has also developed smaller motors for different uses:

• Semi-trucks: A powerful motor with 268 hp and 2,212 lb-ft of torque.

• Electric scooters: A 12-inch motor offering 20 hp.

• Drones: A tiny 4.7-inch motor producing 4 hp.

• Motorcycles: A 17-inch motor delivering 201 hp.

These motors are already in use. Verge Motorcycles, Donut Labs’ parent company, uses them in its electric bikes. Oruga, a Latvian company, uses Donut's motors to build off-road EVs, while Hyper Q Aerospace, an Australian firm, uses them for electric aircraft. Donut Labs also provides a platform to help streamline EV development, claiming it can reduce resources by as much as 95%.

With the global electric transport market expected to grow from $550 billion to $4.4 trillion by 2032, Donut Labs’ innovative motor tech could play a major role in shaping the next generation of EVs.