PRODRIVE · Project

Mass-Production In-Wheel Electric Motor That Cuts EV Costs and Boosts Efficiency

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Imagine putting the entire electric motor inside each wheel of a car — no gearbox, no driveshaft, no bulky motor under the hood. That's exactly what a Slovenian company built: a compact, powerful motor that fits inside a standard 19-inch rim and works with regular brakes. The result is an electric car that's 10-15% more energy efficient, cheaper to build, and performs better than anything else on the market. Think of it like going from a desktop computer to a laptop — same power, radically smaller package.

By the numbers

10-15%

Energy efficiency improvement over current electric cars

20%

More performance than closest in-wheel motor competitor

Better efficiency than closest in-wheel motor competitor

296

New employments projected within 5 years post-project

200 million EUR

Projected revenue within 5 years post-project

29 million EUR

Projected combined EBITDA within 5 years post-project

18%

Target global upper-segment passenger car market share

19 inches

Minimum rim size the motor fits into

The business problem

What needed solving

Electric vehicles today use bulky central motors, gearboxes, and driveshafts that add weight, cost, and complexity. Automotive OEMs looking for in-wheel motor alternatives could only find solutions that were either too expensive, too weak, or not ready for mass production. The upper-segment EV market lacked an industrialized in-wheel motor that fits standard rims and works with existing OEM brakes.

The solution

What was built

Elaphe built a mass-production-ready in-wheel electric motor (fitting 19-inch or larger rims) with a patented electromagnetic and mechanical design, and introduced an assembly line for high series production. The project delivered 15 deliverables including communication materials and the production line setup.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive OEMs developing new electric vehicle platformsEV startups designing premium or upper-segment passenger carsTier 1 automotive suppliers looking for drivetrain component partnershipsFleet operators seeking lower total cost of ownership for EVsAutomotive engineering consultancies evaluating next-generation powertrain options

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive OEM

enterprise

Target: Electric vehicle manufacturer or legacy automaker transitioning to EVs

If you are an automotive OEM developing new electric vehicle platforms — this project built a production-ready in-wheel motor that fits into 19-inch or larger rims, increases powertrain efficiency by 10-15% compared to current EVs, and delivers 20% more performance than competing in-wheel solutions. This eliminates the central motor, transmission, and driveshaft, cutting vehicle manufacturing cost and final sales price.

Electric Mobility Startups

SME

Target: EV startup designing upper-segment passenger vehicles

If you are an EV startup targeting the premium passenger car segment — this project delivered an industrialized in-wheel motor covering the torque needs of upper-segment vehicles. With the lowest production price even at lower production quantities, it removes barriers to market entry. The motor integrates original OEM brakes, meaning no custom brake redesign is needed.

Fleet and Commercial Vehicle Operators

mid-size

Target: Company managing electric vehicle fleets or last-mile delivery operations

If you are a fleet operator looking to reduce total cost of ownership for electric vehicles — this in-wheel motor technology lowers annual ownership costs without sacrificing performance or comfort. The 10-15% energy efficiency gain translates directly to lower electricity consumption per kilometer, reducing operating expenses across your entire fleet.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this technology cost compared to conventional EV drivetrains?

The project objective states this in-wheel motor has the lowest production price in its category and is suitable for market entry even at lower production quantities. It targets a reduction in vehicle manufacturing cost and sales price compared to current EV technologies. Specific per-unit pricing is not disclosed in the project data.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

Yes — one of the key deliverables was the introduction of an assembly line for high series production. The project was specifically designed for mass production, with projections of 200 million EUR in revenue and 18% global upper-segment passenger car market share within 5 years after the project ended.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The in-wheel motor is based on Elaphe's patented electromagnetic and mechanical design. As a single-partner SME project, all IP stays with Elaphe. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with the company.

How does this compare to existing in-wheel motor competitors?

Based on the project data, this motor offers 20% more performance at 2% better efficiency than the closest in-wheel motor competitor. It also delivers 10-15% better energy efficiency than current conventional electric car powertrains. These figures come from the project objective.

What vehicle types does this motor fit?

The motor fits into 19-inch or larger wheel rims and incorporates original OEM brakes. It was designed specifically for upper-segment passenger cars, covering the torque requirements of premium electric vehicles.

What is the timeline for commercial availability?

The project ran from May 2016 to April 2018 under SME Instrument Phase 2 funding. The objective projected an ROI turning point during year 2 after the project's end (around 2020) and targeted 296 new employments within 5 years post-project.

Does this meet automotive industry regulations?

The motor was designed to work with original OEM brakes and fit standard rim sizes, indicating alignment with existing automotive standards. As an SME Instrument Phase 2 project focused on commercialization, regulatory compliance was part of the industrialization pathway. Specific certifications are not detailed in the available data.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project by Elaphe Pogonske Tehnologije, a Slovenian SME, funded under the SME Instrument Phase 2 — a scheme specifically designed for high-potential SMEs ready to scale. The 100% industry consortium with zero academic partners signals this is a commercialization project, not a research exercise. With 1 partner from 1 country (Slovenia) and 15 total deliverables including assembly line introduction, the project was tightly focused on getting a product to market rather than generating scientific publications.

ELAPHE POGONSKE TEHNOLOGIJE DOOCoordinator · SI

How to reach the team

Elaphe Pogonske Tehnologije DOO is based in Slovenia. As a commercially active SME in the EV space, they can be reached through their company website or LinkedIn.

Order a report on this consortium See ELAPHE POGONSKE TEHNOLOGIJE DOO profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the Elaphe team to discuss in-wheel motor integration for your vehicle platform? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting — contact us for a tailored brief and matchmaking.

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