Electrically powered vehicles having motor and power supply contained within wheels

An electrically powered vehicle comprising:

• a first wheel having a hub portion in which a rotary electric motor is mounted;
• a second wheel having a hub portion in which a power supply is mounted;
• and
• a frame structurally connecting the hub portions of the first and second wheels.

In an electrically powered vehicle, a plurality of wheels, each wheel comprising:

• an axle;
• a cylindrical stator frame fixed on the axle, an inner surface of the stator frame defining a space for housing a power supply and a motor controller;
• a plurality of electromagnet stator segments mounted on and distributed about an outer surface of the stator frame;
• a cylindrical rotor frame coupled to the axle through bearings, an inner surface of the rotor frame supporting a plurality of permanent magnets distributed to surround the stator segments to form a radial air gap therebetween;
• and
• a tire mounted to an outer surface of the rotor frame.