WATT and Donut Lab have partnered to combine in-wheel motor expertise with WATT’s light-weight aluminum skateboard platform. The collaboration debuts at CES 2026, providing modular EV structure with enhanced torque vectoring and direct-drive effectivity.
Donut Lab and WATT Electrical Car Firm have introduced a partnership combining light-weight battery platform expertise with in-wheel motor techniques. The businesses plan to reveal a purposeful prototype skateboard platform at CES 2026 in Las Vegas on the Donut Lab stand.
The collaboration facilities on WATT’s PACES (Passenger And Industrial EV Skateboard), a low-volume aluminum platform expertise. PACES will incorporate Donut Lab’s in-wheel motor expertise, initially that includes two direct-drive motors on the rear axle. A four-wheel drive configuration is scheduled for later in 2026.
The built-in platform targets a number of car configurations, from seaside buggies to sports activities vehicles and industrial supply automobiles. The modular strategy goals to scale back growth limitations for brand new automobiles whereas sustaining efficiency and effectivity requirements.
The partnership’s technical basis rests on impartial management of every Donut Lab in-wheel motor with millisecond precision. This functionality allows torque vectoring throughout cornering on paved surfaces and when navigating off-road terrain.
The direct-drive structure eliminates conventional powertrains, decreasing weight and mechanical complexity whereas enhancing vitality switch effectivity. The system’s real-time management capabilities present ranges of accuracy, stability, and traction management that typical techniques can not match, in response to the businesses. Software program-defined driving dynamics permit authentic gear producers to customise the driving expertise for finish merchandise.
“The mixing of Donut Lab’s revolutionary in-wheel motor expertise represents a big leap for what PACES can provide the automotive world,” mentioned Neil Yates, CEO of WATT Electrical Automobiles. “The direct, tremendous management of the person wheel speeds brings an agility that’s completely complemented by the low mass and inertia of our chassis expertise. This skateboard can produce automobiles that may set new benchmarks for EV dealing with.”
Marko Lehtimäki, CEO of Donut Lab, acknowledged that WATT’s platform offers situations for showcasing the motor expertise’s capabilities. “Once you mix our direct-drive precision management with WATT’s light-weight engineering experience, you create one thing genuinely transformative, a car structure that’s lighter, extra environment friendly, extra highly effective, and infinitely extra participating to drive,” Lehtimäki mentioned.
The platform’s modular structure helps growth throughout a number of car segments. The simplified design reduces manufacturing complexity, minimizes upkeep necessities, and lowers total prices in comparison with conventional electrical powertrains, doubtlessly making high-performance electrical automobiles extra accessible to smaller producers and specialised markets.
