Bearing with incorporated wireless power transmission device

A drive motor assembly for an electric vehicle having at least one wheel, the motor assembly comprising:

• an electric motor configured to rotatably drive the at least one wheel, the motor having a housing, an outer stator connected with the housing and an inner rotor, the rotor being mounted on a shaft, disposed within the stator and rotatable around a central axis extending through the shaft, the rotor having at least one electromagnetic coil;
• a battery;
• and
• a bearing assembly with a power transmission device for transmitting electric power from the battery to the motor and including:
• an outer ring connected with the housing, the outer ring having an outer raceway and a transmitter coil spaced axially from the outer raceway, the transmitter coil being electrically connectable with the battery and configured to generate an electromagnetic field when current flows through the transmitter coil;
• an inner ring disposed within the inner ring, disposed around the shaft and having an inner raceway and a receiver coil spaced axially from the inner raceway so as to be inductively coupled with the transmitter coil such that electric current is generated within the receiver coil when current flows through the transmitter coil, the receiver coil being electrically connected with the at least one electromagnetic coil of the rotor such that electric current flows from receiver coil to the electromagnetic coil;
• and
• a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the outer raceway and the inner raceway and rotatably coupling the outer ring with the inner ring to thereby rotatably couple the rotor shaft with the housing.