UK in-wheel motor developer claims it is first to match twin-axle prices
5 September 2025 
The UK in-wheel motor (IWM) developer Protean Electric claims that the latest generation of its ProteanDrive technology, due to enter production in 2026, will cost the same as conventional twin-axle drive systems, offering the potential to lower electric vehicle costs and deliver other advantages. It says that its new Pm18 2500 is the first in-wheel motor that can displace twin e-axle set-ups due to its lower costs and improved functionality.
Protean also claims that it is the first IWM supplier able to deliver production-ready, high-performance IWMs for passenger car applications.
The Pm18 2500 system, which delivers more than 2.5kNm of torque and 220kW of power per wheel motor, will allow vehicles to accelerate to 100km/h (62 mph) in close to 3 seconds. Renault is planning to use two of the integrated wheel-motors in its Renault 5 Turbo 5E electric sportscars, which will accelerate from 0–100km/h in less than 3.5 seconds, and hit a top speed of 269km/h (167 mph).
Protean’s IWMs not only match e-axle prices but could also cut electric vehicle production costs by simplifying component complexity and eliminating traditional driveline elements, as well as streamlining production processes. For vehicle OEMs, this offers two attractions: seamless integration of EV technologies into existing platforms with minimal disruption; and greater modularity, increased efficiency, enhanced performance, and space savings, for new designs.
“We have always believed that in-wheel motors make better EVs, and we are able to prove that today,” says said Protean Electric’s CEO, Andrew Whitehead. “In this industry better must also means cheaper, without sacrificing quality or performance.
“As twin e-axle systems become commonplace,” he adds, “we have shown we can displace them with our ProteanDrive solutions, to deliver cost-effective solutions offering more customer value.”
Protean has more than 330 patents across 75 patent families, and has operations in the UK, China and Turkey. It is part of the Bedeo Group, a UK company specialising in transport electrification technologies.
