US Patent 7658251 Direct drive electric traction motor

A direct drive traction vehicle motor system for a wheeled vehicle includes an electric motor rotor for mechanically attachment to a vehicle wheel for rotational movement with the vehicle wheel. An attachment structure is concentrically mounting the rotor to the vehicle wheel. An electric motor stator is mounted in a concentric relationship with the rotor. A mechanical structure is coupled between the vehicle and the stator for inhibiting rotation of the stator. An electric drive circuit is electrically coupled to the motor stator for exciting the motor stator to impart a rotational force on the vehicle wheel through the rotor.