The Donut Lab electric motors debuted at CES 2025 and they were as bold as they are revolutionary. The startup showcased a quintet of all-electric motors, each boasting a see-through design that is as lightweight as it is powerful.
From drones to hypercars, Donut Lab promises to upend electric powertrain standards with an audacious mix of minimal mass and maximum output. The flagship? A 630-kW (845-hp) motor with a jaw-dropping power-to-weight ratio of 15.75 kW/kg. That’s no small feat in a world where cutting mass often compromises torque.
The Donut Lab Electric Motors Could Power the Motorcycles of the Future
Let’s not mince words—this isn’t just flashy tech talk. Donut Lab spun off from Verge Motorcycles, a company already well-versed in crafting hubless electric motors.
Their flagship motor cranks out 4,300 Nm of torque, and they’ve mitigated the Achilles’ heel of in-wheel motors: unsprung mass. CEO Marko Lehtimäki confidently calls it “imperceptible,” a claim that could open doors for sleeker EV designs, weight reductions, and cost savings by scrapping transmission hardware.
What sets Donut apart isn’t just its motors’ specs—it’s the ambition to build a full ecosystem of electric drive components, from battery packs to control software. This isn’t pie-in-the-sky engineering; it’s a grounded leap into next-gen mobility, from moon rovers to Oruga Unitrack moto-mobiles.
The question isn’t whether Donut Lab can deliver—it’s how fast they’ll reshape the EV landscape.
Source: New Atlas
