New EV Mashup Marries In-Wheel Motors With Modular Platform

---

Support CleanTechnica’s work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe.

---

Now is a heckuva good time to bring a new EV to market anywhere in the world — except for here in the US, where the vehicle electrification wheels are spinning in reverse. Still, hope springs eternal. With that in mind, let’s preview the UK automaker Watt Electric Vehicle Company, which is showing off its new partnership with the Finnish in-wheel electric motor firm Donut Lab at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Find them at stand #5539 in the West Hall, in case you happen to be in the neighborhood.

EVs And The In-Wheel Motor Revolution

Conventional ICE vehicles can use in-wheel motors, but the real magic happens when the technology is applied to EVs. “The holy grail of electric vehicle technology is in-wheel electric motors, which put power directly to the street and eliminate a host of other parts,” CleanTechnica observed all the way back in 2013. Although the exact figures are a matter of further study, an analysis posted by the global engineering association SAE International in 2023 indicates that EVs with in-wheel motors are 18% more efficient than their single-motor counterparts.

Donut Lab is among the EV innovators pitching in-wheel motors. The company crossed the CleanTechnica radar at CES 2025, when it introduced the latest iteration of its technology. “The new Donut Lab motor fits inside a 21-inch wheel and promises some impressive performance. For instance, each one can produce up to 630 kilowatts (845 horsepower) and 4,300 newton-meters (3,171 pound-feet) of torque. Imagine four of those puppies bolted onto your favorite ride!” CleanTechnica noted in January.

That particular motor clocks in at about 40 pounds (88 kilos), significantly less than a conventional electric motor of its type. Donut Lab innovates in other areas of EV engineering, too, but the company describes its eponymous Donut Motor as its “flagship innovation.” According to the company, Donut Motor is “the world’s first-ever in-wheel motor that combines maximum torque and power density with a lightweight design, eliminating the need for traditional drivetrain components.”

Not Just One Electric Motor, But Five

In September, Donut Lab provided CleanTechnica with a rundown of the full electric motor lineup launched at CES 2025. “Each of the five motors is designed for a different vehicle category, from scooters and motorcycles to heavy-duty trucks and drones,” Donut Lab recounted.

“The family combines direct-drive architecture, ultra-high torque and power density, and a lightweight footprint,” they added.

Donut Lab also provided some additional details about the Donut Motor. “By eliminating gearboxes, driveshafts, and differentials, it reduces unsprung weight and simplifies vehicle design,” Donut Lab explained.

“Its innovation lies in our motor’s distinctive shape,” they elaborated. “With a larger diameter and minimal active materials, we’re able to achieve higher torque and power density — essentially, more power and torque per kilogram — than conventional motors.”

“Beyond performance, it lowers drivetrain costs and opens the door to flat-floor, modular vehicle platforms,” Donut Lab emphasized again for good measure.

In-Wheel Motor Meets Lightweight Chassis

In September Donut Lab also told CleanTechnica that several OEMs have already contracted to deploy the Donut Motor, one of which is WATT Electric Vehicle Company.

WATT announced the new partnership on December 17, noting that two companies have combined “the class-leading light weight enabled by WATT’s ‘module-to-chassis’ integrated battery platform with the agility of Donut Lab’s in-wheel motors.”

Don’t get too excited just yet. The skateboard platform on display at CES is a prototype, not a production vehicle. Also, a four-motor version will be launched later in 2026. For now, the prototype only features two motors, one for each rear wheel. Still, the prototype showcases WATT’s modular engineering, offering some key insights into the marketability of EVs elsewhere around the world if not in the US.

“The result is an exceptionally lightweight EV platform that delivers huge performance and unrivalled agility, capable of spawning multiple vehicle configurations from beach buggies to high-performance sports cars to commercial delivery vehicles,” WATT explains.

“This modular approach dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for new vehicle development while maintaining the highest standards of performance and efficiency,” the company adds.

Here’s some more marketing-speak from WATT:

At the heart of this partnership’s innovation is the ability to independently control each Donut Lab in-wheel motor with millisecond precision. This creates an unprecedented degree of torque vectoring during cornering on tarmac or when finding grip off-road.

By eliminating traditional powertrains entirely, the direct-drive architecture removes unnecessary weight, frees up package space and reduces complexity while dramatically improving energy transfer efficiency. The system’s real-time control capabilities provide levels of accuracy, stability, and traction control far beyond what conventional systems can achieve, fundamentally transforming the driving experience.

With next-gen software-defined driving dynamics the OEM is in full control of the desired drive experience for the end-product.

Meanwhile, Back In The USA …

Meanwhile, back here in the US, the prospects for a revival in EV sales are looking dimmer by the minute. If there is an exception among the 50 states, the one to watch is California, which would be the 4th-biggest economy in the world if cut loose from the rest of the US.

So far, EV stakeholders in the state are holding firm. One hint of confidence came last week from the UK firm Moke International, which is moving forward with plans to sell the somewhat pricey and impractical Moke Californian open-air electric car in California.

A more solid indication comes from the IONNA EV charging joint venture populated by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Stellantis, and Toyota. In November, IONNA announced a new investment of more than $250 million to build out its network of “Rechargery” stations in California (see more Rechargery background here).

Along with the new infrastructure, IONNA is also launching a new open house–style outreach program in partnership with California dealers, aimed at stimulating interest among first-time, prospective EV drivers.

“Where better for the ‘EV Curious’ to explore options and demystify charging as they transition to zero-emission transportation,” IONNA asks, rhetorically.

In the same announcement, IONNA also noted that Rivian and Ford vehicles can now plug into the Rechargery “Plug & Charge” system along with founding members BMW, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes. By the end of 2026, Honda, Stellantis, and Toyota vehicles will also partake.

That sure sounds like somebody is banking on an uptick in EV sales, at least in California. If you have any thoughts about that, drop a note in the comment thread.

Photo (cropped): The UK startup WATT Electric Vehicle Company will preview its new modular EV platform at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, featuring in-wheel motors engineered by the Finnish firm Donut Lab (courtesy of WATT via email).