In northern Europe, Finland is developping an idea that could change how wheels move. A donut-shaped motor is hidden in the wheel itself. This proposal was born at the Donut Lab and stops with a century of transmission by chains and gears. The idea is to simplify, reduce mobile pieces and take the electric propulsion to a cleaner and more direct format.
This proposition is linked to urban mobility, and promises more silent motors that need less maintenance. It also represents a huge technological innovation inside the tradition of Finnish engineering: the circular design reorganizes the chassis, weight, and internal space.
From electric motorcycles to electric vehicles, this proposal points to energy efficiency, whit lighter in-wheel motors and a sustainable mobility becoming the transport of the future. Altogether, this development fits in a truly mobility revolution taking away complexity.
What is a “Donut motor”?
The principle is simple: putting a round-shaped motor inside the wheel and getting rid of the chain and sprockets. When friction elements disappear, the energy lost is reduced before it touches the asphalt, which improves energy efficiency. The pilot can feel the difference straight away, with less vibrations and a linear acceleration, while maintenance becomes minimal.
According to Donut Lab, the architecture behind the project achieves higher peak power and torque density than other in-wheel motors, because the weight is low enough to makes the typical penalty of wheel engines “practically disappear.”
Furthermore, because it doesn’t need a big space for the propeller or transmission paths, the engine transfer to the shaft frees up the chassis, and allows a lower center of gravity and more flexible design.
The vehicle end up having more room for batteries or other electronic systems because the motor is on the wheel.
How the Donut transforms mobility
The potential impact goes further than the bike. A donut-shaped motor that’s compact and modular, might be easier to adapt to scooters, cargo bicycles, or other light vehicles with two or more wheels.
How could this scale in the motorcycle’s industry? With lighter units for smaller motorbikes, more performant versions for sport bikes, and even modular cores that share the platform. If you integrate a better battery and software, then the motor stops being a piece on the side and become a smart system.
Also, the circular design opens new possibilities, like more freedom in the frame, more interior space, and an optimized mass distribution. That is Finnish engineering taking technological innovation to a whole other level. It’s accelerating the adoption in electric motorcycles and creating a bridge towards electric vehicles that’s more efficient. If the solution shows consistency and a reasonable cost, then the minimalistic logic will be fitting under the mobility revolution.
A clear (and round) path to the future
The Donut Lab concept doesn’t replace all solutions—and it wouldn’t be the idea either—but it adds a very convincing path… in-wheel motors, with a donut-shaped motor, high energy efficiency, and less pieces to be taken care of. It does sound pretty interesting.
With a constant demand for simple vehicles, clean, and easy to maintain, this proposal could accelerate the transition from electric motorcycles and other electric vehicles to the way we move in the future. By puting in order technical priorities, while benefiting from engineering to reduce friction, weight, and difficulties.
If the industry manages to scale up, standardize the proposition, and give a real support to this solution, we will be once more, closer to a more simple and sustainable mobility. And Finland could be signing one of the most exciting chapters in the mobility revolution, where less is definitely more.