In hub motors might be another automotive example of this. They were used by Ferdinand Porsche and invented in 1896. Ever since engineers keep trying them out as a simple elegant solution. Eventually they will break through I think, but there’s the same allure in the simplicity of it all.
Shaving unapeung weight down, even by a small fraction of the total vehicle weight, will dramatically affect handling and perceived ride quality. Even though the battery makes an EV heavier than an equivalent ICE car, there is still the need to reduce unsprung weight. Thus, it would be better to have the motor inboard and run a cv axle out to the wheel than have the entire mass of the motor out on the wheel.
