A startup by the name of Donut Lab used this week’s 2025 CES event in Las Vegas to present its modular in-wheel electric motor technology.
Called the Donut Motor, the electric motor family has been designed to work in a variety of vehicle types, including aircraft and ships, and in its most potent form is claimed to deliver 845 hp.
What’s equally impressive as the output is the weight of the motors. The 845-hp version measures 21 inches in diameter and is claimed to weigh only 88 pounds, which is important for performance metrics in cars, particularly unsprung weight.
The in-wheel design means additional weight savings can be achieved by eliminating the need for components like driveshafts in cars, and the low part count of the motor design means costs can be reduced compared to conventional electric motors, once production ramps up, according to Donut Lab.
Verge Motorcycle with Donut Motor in-wheel electric motor
Smaller, less powerful versions of the Donut Motor weigh even less. A 17-inch version rated at 201 hp was also shown. It is designed for motorcycles and weighs only 37 pounds. Donut Lab said it is working on an even smaller version measuring 12 inches and weighing only eight pounds.
The company also described plans for a mini version that will measure less than five inches in diameter and deliver about four horsepower. The weight of this version is targeted to be just 3.3 pounds, which will make it ideal for use in drones, the company said.
Donut Lab hasn’t announced any plans to supply its Donut Motor to a major automaker, but Verge Motorcycles, a Finnish company affiliated with Donut Lab, already offers an electric motorcycle powered by a Donut Motor. Verge Motorcycles, which has stores in Los Angeles and Santa Clara, uses the 17-inch motor and promises 0-60 mph acceleration in about 2.5 seconds for its TS Ultra motorcycle.