Donut Lab has unveiled the “world’s best” wheels for electric vehicles – they don’t require a transmission

At CES 2025, Donut Lab brought a family of electric motors built into wheels. Electric motors are lightweight and have high torque. The company claims it is the industry’s best solution for electric transportation today, from drones to heavy-duty wheeled, air and sea vehicles.

Image source: Donut Lab

Donut Lab electric motors differ from competing electric wheels by having much more empty space inside. This reduces the weight of the wheel assembly. So far, manufacturers of heavy electric vehicles are in no hurry to switch to electric wheels, since a fairly large mass ends up without shock absorbers. Donut Lab’s electric motors, according to the company, make the weight of electric wheels insignificant and even unnoticeable.

The use of electric wheels will significantly simplify the design of the chassis of cars, making the transmission and related components unnecessary. This leaves more free space for vehicle passengers, not to mention reducing its cost and operating costs.

Of the five Donut Lab electric wheels presented at CES 2025, the 630-kW 21-inch (53.34 cm) have the best power-to-weight ratio – 15.75 kW/kg. It is possible that this is the best offer today. They also have an impressive torque of 4300 Nm or 108 Nm/kg. Smaller wheels are not as impressive in terms of peak performance, but for their segments they look no worse than competitors.

According to Donut Lab, the company’s electric wheels will change the electric transport industry in all areas – wheeled, air and sea. The company is already mass-producing electric bicycles with electric wheels of its own design and intends to offer interesting new products in other areas.