630 kw, 4,300 Nm and 40 kg (88,2 lbs) A Revolution in the Engine Market?

Related Vendors

FAULHABER Drive Systems

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

A New Era in Electromobility? With 630 kW of power and 4,300 Nm of torque packed into just 40 kg (approx. 88,2 lbs), the donut motor sets a technological milestone, poised to redefine the boundaries of the drive market.

Donut Motor Aims to Revolutionize the Market. At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Donut Motor unveiled a groundbreaking motor series boasting immense torque and minimal weight. Led by Finnish entrepreneur Marko Lehtimäki, the start-up's innovative concept could render conventional powertrains obsolete in electromobility, reducing both vehicle weight and complexity

The most powerful model in the Donut motor series is optimized for use in automobiles. It offers 630 kW of power and a torque of 4,300 Nm with a mass of just 40 kg (approx. 88,2 lbs) . As the motor sits directly in the wheel, the concept does not require a gearbox. Due to the enormous power density, there is little need to worry about unsprung masses. The design also significantly reduces the number of moving parts. This minimizes maintenance requirements and increases reliability.

In addition to this high-performance model, Donut Lab also offers smaller variants designed for different applications such as motorcycles, scooters and drones. The design is already familiar from the motorcycle from Verge Motorcycles, which is also the parent company of Donut Motor.

The wheel hub motor presented at CES  2025 is most likely to be an axial flux motor, as these technologies best reflect the characteristics of the motor - high performance with a compact design and low weight.

Axial flux machine

The design of an axial flux motor is flat and compact. In contrast, the magnetic field of conventional radial flux motors is aligned radially—from the center outwards towards the axis of rotation— whereas in axial flux motors it runs parallel to the axis of rotation. This means that the magnetic flux takes place along the plane of the disks or rotors. The magnetic field is thus guided more efficiently.

The design of an axial flux motor enables a higher power density, as the magnetic layer and the windings can be arranged closer together. As a result, more torque per kilogram is achieved than with radially aligned motors. In addition, the design can be arranged in such a way that several rotor and stator layers are arranged on top of each other, which further increases the power while maintaining the same compactness.

The axial flux design also results in a lighter rotor. Because there is less moving mass, the inertia forces are reduced. These features make axial flux motors particularly suitable for electric vehicles, aircraft and high-performance machines. The flat design also enables integration into space-critical applications, such as wheel hubs or compact housings. The reduced volume gives vehicle manufacturers more design freedom and enables a lower vehicle height as well as optimized space utilization for batteries and other components. (mr)