Protean Electric rolls towards making in-wheel electric motors a reality

In 2012, Protean Electric—a Michigan-based company with $84 million in Chinese funding—announced it was reinventing the wheel, so to speak. The idea was to create in-wheel electric motors that would eliminate many traditional components—like axles—while freeing up the interior space normally occupied by the powertrain, allowing engineers more freedom in vehicular design.

It was a clever idea; one that required a willing OEM to help facilitate the concept. While Protean has created many development mules over the years as its technology evolves—like Brabus' hybrid-powered Mercedes and a Ford F-150 EV—an official partnership to bring its system to life has finally been announced:

Protean has inked a deal with FAW-Volkswagen, announcing plans to integrate its innovative in-wheel system into the brand's upcoming electric sedan.

FAW-VW, a Chinese automaker that's part-owned by Volkswagen Group, utilizes a previous-generation Jetta sedan as a base for its Bora sedan that serves its Chinese marketplace. The automaker sought an all-electric version of this car, and with its new partnership with Protean, it plans to incorporate an in-wheel motor into each one of the rear wheels, turning the front-wheel drive sedan into a rear-wheel drive electric vehicle.