In-wheel electric motors are poised to transform vehicle performance and handling

Key points

• Technology revival: Despite the failure of EV startup Lordstown Motors, the Slovenian company Elaphe is successfully refining "in-wheel" motor technology, which places electric motors directly inside the wheels rather than in the car's body.
• Superior control: By eliminating traditional driveshafts and differentials, these motors allow for near-instantaneous adjustments to power and braking at each individual wheel, resulting in significantly better handling and traction on difficult surfaces like ice.
• Design efficiency: Future vehicles designed specifically for this technology could be lighter, cheaper, and more spacious because they would not require bulky, traditional drivetrain components.
• Active suspension: Elaphe is exploring ways to use the motors to actively dampen vibrations, potentially replacing complex suspension parts and further reducing vehicle weight.
• Market timeline: While currently being tested in prototypes and performance hybrids, the company expects to see this technology in mass-market vehicles within the next few years, with broader adoption expected after 2030.

In-wheel motors could fundamentally change how cars drive by offering "supernatural" levels of control and grip. If successfully scaled, this technology could lead to a new generation of electric vehicles that are more efficient, agile, and fun to drive than today’s models.