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Donut Lab makes compact electric motors that sit in a vehicle’s wheel, rather than driving it through a conventional transmission. The design is in documented use on Verge motorcycles: Donut Lab says its motors have been used in production there for years, and TechRadar published a firsthand ride review of a Verge TS Pro in 2025. That establishes a real motorcycle application—not independent confirmation of Donut Lab’s headline power, torque, weight or durability claims.
What is a Donut Lab motor?
It is an in-wheel electric drive unit: the motor is integrated at the wheel, so it can propel the vehicle without conventional transmission components such as a driveshaft and gearing. Donut Lab presents the format as a way to simplify powertrain packaging and give vehicle designers more freedom. Ars Technica describes the motors as radial-flux designs.
Moving the motor to the wheel changes the trade-offs, rather than removing them. A hub motor can simplify the rest of the powertrain, but adds mass at the wheel—unsprung mass—which can affect how the suspension responds. It is also exposed to road conditions. Ars Technica reported these as longstanding engineering concerns for in-wheel motors. Donut Lab executives said their design and manufacturing process addresses durability, but those statements are not independent long-term validation.
What specifications has Donut Lab announced?
In a motor-family announcement dated 26 February 2025, Donut Lab described five motor sizes for different uses. The company’s published figures included:
#1 Best Overall
- [Excellent Copper Movement] : Utilizes material and winding technology to boost performance.
- [Suitable for 8 Inch Scooters] : for electric balancing cars and scooters.
- [ Rubber Tires] : Provides puncture and durability for longer service life.
- [Powerful Motor] : Ensure efficient performance and enhanced power without added burden.
- Make your electric scooter run smoother and longer with this powerful 36V 350W wheel hub motor! Its low noise use ensures a pleasant riding experience while the rubber tires offer puncture and durability. The excellent copper movement and winding technology enhance power and performance, making use simple and . Specifically designed for 8 inch electric scooters, this motor is for balancing vehicles.
| Announced motor | Donut Lab’s stated figures | Intended use described by Donut Lab |
|---|---|---|
| 17-inch | 150 kW, 1,200 Nm, 21 kg | Two-wheelers |
| 12-inch | 8 kg; power and torque not stated in the announcement | Not stated in the announcement |
| 21-inch | 630 kW, 4,300 Nm, 40 kg | Not stated in the announcement |
| 120 mm “minidonut” | 3 kW, 20 Nm, 1.5 kg | Drones |
These are Donut Lab’s announcement specifications, not figures established by independent measurement. The 17-inch motor’s announced 150 kW and 1,200 Nm should also not be conflated with the separate Verge TS Pro figures Donut Lab lists on its current motor page: 102 kW and 1,000 Nm. Those, too, are company-provided specifications.
Does the motor actually work in a vehicle?
There is evidence of a working motorcycle application, distinct from the broader claims. Donut Lab says its motors have been in continuous production use with Verge Motorcycles for years, and says customer deliveries of its 17-inch Open motor began in early 2023. These are the company’s statements about its production history.
Rank #2
- [ALL-IN-ONE COMPACT INTEGRATION] Features a highly integrated 102mm hub wheel housing a brushless DC (BLDC) motor, an advanced FOC servo driver, and a high-precision encoder. This plug-and-play design eliminates the need for external drive boards and complex wiring, significantly optimizing internal chassis space and simplifying mechanical assembly for robotic platforms.
- [HIGH-PRECISION CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL] Equipped with a built-in FOC (Field Oriented Control) algorithm and a 4096-line high-resolution encoder to deliver precise torque, speed, and position closed-loop control. This setup ensures smooth operation at extremely low speeds and provides highly accurate odometry feedback, which is essential for SLAM mapping and autonomous navigation systems.
- [HIGH TORQUE DENSITY & ULTRA-QUIET OPERATION] Delivers a robust 0.96 N·m rated torque and up to 2.0 N·m stall torque, ensuring agile start-stop response and excellent obstacle-clearing capabilities. Operates at a whisper-quiet noise level of less than 50dB, making it an ideal drive solution for commercial environments strictly sensitive to acoustic noise, such as hospitals, restaurants, and high-end hotels.
- [INDUSTRIAL RS485 COMMUNICATION & MULTIPLE PROTECTIONS] Utilizes a standard RS485 industrial bus interface for real-time monitoring of motor current, speed, position, and temperature data by the main controller. Built-in comprehensive safety mechanisms—including overcurrent, over-temperature, and stall protection—combined with an IP54 dust and water resistance rating for reliable and secure long-term operation.
- [DESIGNED FOR AGV & SERVICE ROBOT APPLICATIONS] This specific model features a Right Orientation tread and wiring output configuration, engineered specifically for building the right drive system of mobile platforms. Perfectly suited for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), indoor delivery robots, commercial cleaning equipment, and academic ROS research projects.
Separately, TechRadar’s Leon Poultney published a firsthand ride review of the Verge TS Pro on 2 August 2025. For the reviewed configuration, the article reported 1,000 Nm at the rear wheel, a 0–60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, a claimed 217-mile range from a 20.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, a weight of 245 kg, and fast charging in approximately 35 minutes. The reviewer observed and rode the motorcycle; the stated performance and range figures should be read as dated figures for that reviewed version, not as a controlled comparison of Donut Lab motors.
The available evidence does not establish whether newer TS Pro motorcycles using the later motor specifications are currently being delivered to retail customers. Nor does the ride review independently verify a general service-life claim for the motor.
Rank #3
- 10inch scooter wheel hub motor, rated voltage 36V, power 350W, equipped with drum brake system to provide stable braking; Motor speed 650-800 RPM, high efficiency work , good climbing performance, to meet your commuting needs. When using the controller to match the motor for the first time, self-learning is required, you can find the instruction in the picture description.
- Nylon tires, can adapt to different road surfaces, lightweight aluminum alloy wheels, water and corrosion resistance, bearing structure stable, long service life.
- Brushless gearless motor with 2.4-inch wide tires, low running sound, good shock absorption performance, improve riding comfort, opening size 110mm, load weight range 100-150KG.
- 36V brushless DC controller, power off protection voltage 29V, rated current 17A, size only 3.3 inches ×2 inches, saving installation space.
- Includes components: 1x10inch 36V 350W wheel motor, 1x 350W 17A brushless controller, 1xmulti-function twist throttle ( power display and ignition key function), widely used in off road, electric wheelbarrow kit, DIY equipment modification.
How should the durability claims be judged?
Donut Lab CEO Marko Lehtimäki told Ars Technica, “We call it the infinite motor because it will outlast the life of the vehicle when done right.” That is an executive’s description of the company’s intended durability, not a demonstrated service-life statistic. Ars also quoted Chief Product Officer Ville Piippo describing the manufacturing process as central to keeping magnets and coils in the correct positions.
Those explanations give context for how Donut Lab says it tackles the design challenge. They do not substitute for independently reported comparative tests or controlled long-term durability data; no such result is established by the sources cited here. Buyers and vehicle designers should therefore distinguish the motor’s documented use in Verge motorcycles from claims about how it compares with other layouts or how long it will last across different vehicles and conditions.
Rank #4
- 8.5” Front Motor Wheel – 580MΩ Super Insulation, Z4-Grade 150℃ Heat-Resistant Bearings, S45C Steel Shaft, 0.17mm Precision Runout, Sinusoidal Control for Smooth Ride, Fits 8.5" E-Scooters.
- OEM Scooter Motor – 36V 350W, Peak 464W Power – 17.8N.m max torque, 87% top efficiency, 20dB ultra-quiet (≤40dB standard). Smooth for commutes & slope climbing.
- Wide Compatibility – Fits 8.5" e-scooters. 700mm 1.2mm² high-temp wire + standard connector, plug-and-play.
- Durable & Weather-Resistant – IPX5 waterproof, Z4-grade bearings (150℃ heat-resistant), S45C steel shaft. Premium aluminum housing for long service life.
- Precise Fit & Easy Install – Exact factory dimensions (20mm tire width, 78mm shaft length), comes with M12 nuts/washers. Tool-free replacement in minutes.
What about Donut Lab’s other vehicle applications?
In December 2025, Donut Lab announced a collaboration with WATT Electric Vehicle Company to integrate its motors and inverters into WATT’s PACES platform. The announcement initially described two direct-drive motors at the rear axle and a modular platform intended for multiple vehicle types. It establishes an announced integration, not that the platform entered series production or achieved forecast performance.
Donut Lab’s January 2026 announcement also named WATT, Verge, Cova Power and ESOX Group in connection with battery or platform applications. Those battery and platform claims are separate from evidence of motor performance; they do not independently corroborate the motor specifications.
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- High-Performance Motor: The TT DC gearbox motor features a 1:48 gear ratio, perfect for Arduino smart car and robotics projects, delivering reliable power output for various applications.
- Wide Voltage Range: Rated for 3-6V operation, this motor ensures efficient performance across different voltage levels, making it versatile for multiple projects.
- Superior Speed and Torque: Operating speeds range from 90 RPM (at 3V) to 200 RPM (at 6V), with a torque range of 0.15Nm to 0.60Nm, meeting diverse power requirements for your builds.
- Easy Connection Design: Each motor comes with two 200mm long 28AWG wires featuring breadboard-friendly 2.54mm connectors, allowing for quick and hassle-free connections to breadboards or terminal blocks.
- What You Will Get: 4 X TT motors with welded cable, 4 X wheels, ideal for DIY projects and educational purposes, empowering you to bring your creative ideas to life effortlessly.
What the evidence supports—and what it doesn’t
- Established in concept: Donut Lab’s motor is an in-wheel, direct-drive design intended to eliminate conventional transmission components.
- Established as an application, with attribution: Donut Lab identifies Verge motorcycles as a production use, and a reviewer documented riding a Verge TS Pro in 2025.
- Still company claims: The family’s headline power, torque and weight figures, as well as claims of exceptional durability and superiority, are not independently verified by the cited material.
- Still an announcement: The WATT PACES collaboration is not proof of series production or realized performance.
Sources: Donut Lab motor information; Donut Lab’s 26 February 2025 motor-family announcement; Ars Technica’s technical reporting; TechRadar’s Verge TS Pro ride review; Donut Lab’s WATT collaboration announcement; Donut Lab’s CES 2026 battery announcement.
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