New EV Mashup Marries In-Wheel Motors With Modular Platform

Help CleanTechnica’s work by way of a Substack subscription or on Stripe.

Now could be a heckuva good time to deliver a brand new EV to market wherever on this planet — aside from right here within the US, the place the automobile electrification wheels are spinning in reverse. Nonetheless, hope springs everlasting. With that in thoughts, let’s preview the UK automaker Watt Electrical Car Firm, which is exhibiting off its new partnership with the Finnish in-wheel electrical motor agency Donut Lab at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Discover them at stand #5539 within the West Corridor, in case you occur to be within the neighborhood.

EVs And The In-Wheel Motor Revolution

Typical ICE automobiles can use in-wheel motors, however the true magic occurs when the expertise is utilized to EVs. “The holy grail of electrical automobile expertise is in-wheel electrical motors, which put energy on to the road and remove a number of different components,” CleanTechnica noticed all the best way again in 2013. Though the precise figures are a matter of additional research, an evaluation posted by the worldwide engineering affiliation SAE Worldwide in 2023 signifies that EVs with in-wheel motors are 18% extra environment friendly than their single-motor counterparts.

Donut Lab is among the many EV innovators pitching in-wheel motors. The corporate crossed the CleanTechnica radar at CES 2025, when it launched the newest iteration of its expertise. “The brand new Donut Lab motor matches inside a 21-inch wheel and guarantees some spectacular efficiency. For example, every one can produce as much as 630 kilowatts (845 horsepower) and 4,300 newton-meters (3,171 pound-feet) of torque. Think about 4 of these puppies bolted onto your favourite journey!” CleanTechnica famous in January.

That exact motor clocks in at about 40 kilos (88 kilos), considerably lower than a traditional electrical motor of its kind. Donut Lab innovates in different areas of EV engineering, too, however the firm describes its eponymous Donut Motor as its “flagship innovation.” In accordance with the compamy, Donut Motor is “the world’s first-ever in-wheel motor that mixes most torque and energy density with a light-weight design, eliminating the necessity for conventional drivetrain parts.”

Not Simply One Electrical Motor, However 5

In September, Donut Lab supplied CleanTechnica with a rundown of the complete electrical motor lineup launched at CES 2025. “Every of the 5 motors is designed for a distinct automobile class, from scooters and bikes to heavy-duty vehicles and drones,” Donut Lab recounted.

“The household combines direct-drive structure, ultra-high torque and energy density, and a light-weight footprint,” they added.

Donut Lab additionally supplied some further particulars concerning the Donut Motor. “By eliminating gearboxes, driveshafts, and differentials, it reduces unsprung weight and simplifies automobile design,” Donut Lab defined.

“Its innovation lies in our motor’s distinctive form,” they elaborated. “With a bigger diameter and minimal energetic supplies, we’re capable of obtain greater torque and energy density — primarily, extra energy and torque per kilogram — than standard motors.”

“Past efficiency, it lowers drivetrain prices and opens the door to flat-floor, modular automobile platforms,” Donut Lab emphasised once more for good measure.

In-Wheel Motor Meets Light-weight Chassis

In September Donut Lab additionally informed CleanTechnica that a number of OEMs have already contracted to deploy the Donut Motor, one among which is WATT Electrical Car Firm.

WATT introduced the brand new partnership on December 17, noting that two corporations have mixed “the class-leading mild weight enabled by WATT’s ‘module-to-chassis’ built-in battery platform with the agility of Donut Lab’s in-wheel motors.”

Don’t get too excited simply but. The skateboard platform on show at CES is a prototype, not a manufacturing automobile. Additionally, a four-motor model might be launched later in 2026. For now the prototype solely options two motors, one for every rear wheel. Nonetheless, the prototype showcases WATT’s modular engineering, providing some key insights into the marketability of EVs elsewhere all over the world if not within the US.

“The result’s an exceptionally light-weight EV platform that delivers large efficiency and unrivalled agility, able to spawning a number of automobile configurations from seashore buggies to high-performance sports activities vehicles to industrial supply automobiles,” WATT explains.

“This modular method dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for brand new automobile improvement whereas sustaining the best requirements of efficiency and effectivity,” the corporate provides.

Right here’s some extra marketing-speak from WATT:

On the coronary heart of this partnership’s innovation is the flexibility to independently management every Donut Lab in-wheel motor with millisecond precision. This creates an unprecedented diploma of torque vectoring throughout cornering on tarmac or when discovering grip off-road.

By eliminating conventional powertrains fully, the direct-drive structure removes pointless weight, frees up package deal house and reduces complexity whereas dramatically enhancing vitality switch effectivity. The system’s real-time management capabilities present ranges of accuracy, stability, and traction management far past what standard methods can obtain, basically remodeling the driving expertise.

With next-gen software-defined driving dynamics the OEM is in full management of the specified drive expertise for the end-product.

In the meantime, Again In The USA …

In the meantime, again right here within the US, the prospects for a revival in EV gross sales are wanting dimmer by the minute. If there’s an exception among the many 50 states, the one to look at is California, which might be the 4th-biggest economic system on this planet if minimize unfastened from the remainder of the US.

Thus far, EV stakeholders within the state are holding agency. One trace of confidence got here final week from the UK agency Moke Worldwide, which is shifting ahead with plans to promote the considerably expensive and impractical Moke Californian open-air electrical automotive in California.

A extra strong indication comes from the IONNA EV charging three way partnership populated by BMW, Common Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Stellantis and Toyota. In November, IONNA introduced a brand new funding of greater than $250 million to construct out its community of “Rechargery” stations in California (see extra Rechargery background right here).

Together with the brand new infrastructure, IONNA can be launching a brand new open house-style outreach program in partnership with California sellers, aimed toward stimulating curiosity amongst first time, potential EV drivers.

“The place higher for the ‘EV Curious’ to discover choices and demystify charging as they transition to zero-emission transportation,” IONNA asks, rhetorically.

In the identical announcement, IONNA additionally famous that Rivian and Ford automobiles can now plug into the Rechargery “Plug & Cost” system together with founding members BMW, Common Motors, Hyundai, Kia and Mercedes. By the tip of 2026, Honda, Stellantis, and Toyota automobiles may even partake.

That certain feels like any individual is banking on an uptick in EV gross sales, a minimum of in California. In case you have any ideas about that, drop a observe within the remark thread.

Photograph (cropped): The UK startup WATT Electrical Car Firm will preview its new modular EV platform at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, that includes in-wheel motors engineered by the Finnish agency Donut Lab (courtesy of WATT through e mail).