Patent Publication Number: US-11390163-B2

Title: Variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprising selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors and method of using the same

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to a variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprising electric hub motors and a method of using the same. More particularly, it relates to a variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprising selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors and a method of using the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electric hub motors or wheel motors, that is, electric motors that are incorporated into the hubs of wheels and drive them directly are increasingly being used in a wide variety of wheeled electric vehicles (EV&#39;s), particularly automotive electric vehicles. Typically, electric hub motors, particularly those used on various automotive electric vehicles are very closely integrated with the drive wheels on which they are installed such that they may not be removed without removing the entire wheel on which they are integrated. Frequently, the hub motor components, particularly the cylindrical rotor and cylindrical stator components, are not accessible for attachment or detachment from the outward facing side of the wheel. When one of the hub motor components fails, or when a change or upgrade of a motor component is desired, the entire hub motor and wheel must be removed to be serviced. The integrated hub motor and wheel assembly is heavy and expensive. Thus, the electric hub motors generally cannot be removed, replaced, repaired, or serviced directly by a vehicle user or operator, and they generally require service at a dedicated service facility, such as a dealer or dedicated vehicle repair shop, by trained service technicians. Furthermore, because removal of electric hub motors and their associated wheels is difficult, there are very limited options for changing the location of a hub motor and wheel on vehicles that employ them, either on the same axle or between axles. While vehicles that employ electric hub motors and wheels are useful with these constraints, enabling the electric hub motors and/or their components to be more easily separated and more easily accessible would reduce repair and replacement costs, enhance the usefulness and utility of electric hub motors, and thereby enhance vehicle owner and operator satisfaction. 
     Therefore, it would be very desirable to provide an electric vehicle that uses motive wheels and electric hub motors that can be reconfigured on the vehicle, as well as methods of reconfiguring the motive wheels and electric hub motors, that would address the limitations and provide the benefits mentioned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a variable wheel drive electric vehicle is disclosed. The variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis; a first axle disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends, the opposed first axle ends axially spaced apart along a first axle axis; a pair of first axle hubs attached to the first axle ends, a pair of motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the first axle hubs, and a pair of electric hub motors each comprising a stator and a rotor, the stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs, the rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the motive wheels, the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle longitudinally spaced from the first axle and disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends, the opposed second axle ends axially spaced apart along a second axle axis; a pair of second axle hubs attached to the opposed second axle ends; a pair of non-motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the second axle hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks each comprising a stator blank and a rotor blank, the stator blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the rotor blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, the rotor blanks configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels by and about the stator blanks. 
     In another embodiment, a method of using a variable wheel drive electric vehicle is disclosed. The method of using a variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises forming a variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprising: a vehicle chassis; a first axle disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends, the opposed first axle ends axially spaced apart along a first axle axis; a pair of first axle hubs attached to the first axle ends; a pair of motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the first axle hubs; and a pair of electric hub motors each comprising a stator and a rotor, the stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs, the rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the motive wheels, the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle longitudinally spaced from the first axle and disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends, the opposed second axle ends axially spaced apart along a second axle axis; a pair of second axle hubs attached to the opposed second axle ends; a pair of non-motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the second axle hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks each comprising a stator blank and a rotor blank, the stator blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the rotor blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, the rotor blanks configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stator blanks. The method of using a variable wheel drive electric vehicle also comprises detaching the electric hub motors from the first axle hubs and the motive wheels and detaching the hub motor blanks from the second axle hubs and the non-motive wheels, and attaching the electric hub motors to the second axle hub and the non-motive wheels which thereby become the motive wheels, and attaching the hub motor blanks to the first axle hub and the motive wheels which thereby become the non-motive wheels, whereby the motive wheels are moved from disposition along the first axle axis to disposition along the second axle axis and the non-motive wheels are moved from disposition along the second axle axis to disposition along the first axle axis; or detaching the motive wheels from the first axle hub and the non-motive wheels from the second axle hub and attaching the motive wheels to the second axle hub and the non-motive wheels to the first axle hub, whereby the motive wheels are moved from disposition along the first axle axis to disposition along the second axle axis and the non-motive wheels are moved from disposition along the second axle axis to disposition along the first axle axis. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of using a variable wheel drive electric vehicle is disclosed. The method of using a variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises forming a variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprising: a vehicle chassis; a first axle disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends, the opposed first axle ends axially spaced apart along a first axle axis; a pair of first axle hubs attached to the first axle ends; a pair of motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the first axle hubs; and a pair of electric hub motors each comprising a stator and a rotor, the stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs, the rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the motive wheels, the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle longitudinally spaced from the first axle and disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends, the opposed second axle ends axially spaced apart along a second axle axis; a pair of second axle hubs attached to the opposed second axle ends; a pair of non-motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the second axle hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks each comprising a stator blank and a rotor blank, the stator blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the rotor blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, the rotor blanks configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stator blanks. The method of using a variable wheel drive electric vehicle also comprises detaching the hub motor blanks from the second axle hubs and the non-motive wheels, and attaching a pair of additional electric hub motors, each additional hub motor comprising an additional stator and an additional rotor, the additional stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the additional rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, by attaching the additional stators to the second axle hubs and attaching the additional rotors to the non-motive wheels which thereby become additional motive wheels configured for reversible motive rotation by and about the additional stators, wherein the variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises an all-wheel drive vehicle; or detaching the non-motive wheels from the second axle hub, and attaching a pair of additional motive wheels to the second axle hub, the additional electric hub motors each comprising an additional stator and an additional rotor, the additional stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the additional rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the additional motive wheels, the additional rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the additional motive wheels by and about the additional stators, wherein the variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises an all-wheel drive vehicle. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of embodiments, the detailed description referring to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a variable wheel drive (VWD) electric vehicle and an axle comprising motive wheels and electric hub motors that may be selectively attached to and detached from the motive wheels, as described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a VWD electric vehicle and an axle comprising non-motive wheels and hub motors blanks that may be selectively attached to and detached from the non-motive wheels, as described herein; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a VWD electric vehicle and an axle comprising non-motive wheels and hub motors blanks that may be selectively attached to and detached from the non-motive wheels, as described herein; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of a VWD electric vehicle configured for front-wheel drive (FWD) comprising a pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a front axle and pair of non-motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable hub motor blanks comprising a rear axle, as described herein, as well as a method of using the electric vehicle of  FIG. 4  by moving the motive wheels from the front axle to the rear axle and the non-motive wheels from the rear axle to the front axle, or by moving the electric hub motors from the front axle to the rear axle and the hub motor blanks from the rear axle to the front axle, to convert the FWD vehicle to a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle, as described herein; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of a VWD electric vehicle configured for RWD comprising a pair of non-motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable hub motor blanks that comprise a front axle and pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors comprising a rear axle, as described herein, as well as a method of using the electric vehicle of  FIG. 5  by moving the non-motive wheels from the front axle to the rear axle and the motive wheels from the rear axle to the front axle, or by moving the hub motor blanks from the front axle to the rear axle and the electric hub motors from the rear axle to the front axle, to convert the RWD vehicle to an FWD vehicle, as described herein; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle configured for all-wheel drive (AWD) or 4 wheel drive (4WD) comprising a pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a front axle and pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a rear axle, as described herein, as well as a method of using the electric vehicle of  FIG. 4  by detaching the non-motive wheels and attaching additional motive wheels to the rear axle to convert the FWD vehicle to an AWD or 4WD vehicle, or by detaching the hub motor blanks and attaching additional electric hub motors to the non-motive wheels on the rear axle to convert the non-motive wheels to motive wheels, in order to convert the FWD vehicle to an AWD or 4WD vehicle, as described herein; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle configured for all-wheel drive (AWD) or 4 wheel drive (4WD) comprising a pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a front axle and pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a rear axle, as described herein, as well as a method of using the electric vehicle of  FIG. 5  by detaching the non-motive wheels and attaching additional motive wheels to the front axle to convert the RWD vehicle to an AWD or 4WD vehicle, or by detaching the hub motor blanks and attaching additional electric hub motors to the non-motive wheels on the front axle to convert the non-motive wheels to motive wheels, in order to convert the RWD vehicle to an AWD or 4WD vehicle, as described herein; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle configured for AWD or 4WD comprising a pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a front axle and pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a rear axle, and also having a third axle disposed thereon between the front and rear axles, as described herein, as well as a method of using an electric vehicle by disposing a third axle configured to receive a pair of selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels between the front and rear axles; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 8  with a pair of selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels attached between the front and rear axles; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle configured for AWD or 4WD comprising a pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a front axle and pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a rear axle, and also having a plurality of axles (e.g. a third axle and a fourth axle) disposed thereon between the front and rear axles, as described herein, as well as a method of using an electric vehicle by disposing a plurality of axles (e.g. a third axle and a fourth axle) that are configured to each receive a pair of selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels between the front and rear axles; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 10  with two pair of selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels attached between the front and rear axles; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic bottom view of an embodiment of an electric vehicle configured for AWD or 4WD comprising a pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a front axle and pair of motive wheels and selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors that comprise a rear axle, and also having a plurality of axles (e.g. a third axle and a fourth axle) disposed thereon between the front and rear axles and an axle (e.g. a fifth axle) disposed outward (e.g. forward or rearward) of the front axle or rear axle, as described herein, as well as a method of using an electric vehicle by disposing a plurality of axles (e.g. a third axle and a fourth axle) that are configured to each receive a pair of selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels between the front and rear axles and an axle that is disposed outward of the front axle or rear axle; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 12  with two pair of selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels attached between the front and rear axles, and a pair or selectively attachable and detachable additional motive wheels attached outward of the front axle or rear axle (e.g. outward of the rear axle) 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of using a VWD electric vehicle as described herein; and 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a method of using a VWD electric vehicle as described herein. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention comprises a VWD electric vehicle that comprises motive wheels comprising selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors. The motive wheels comprising selectively attachable and detachable hub motor are very advantageous because the wheels are configured so that the selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors may be attached and detached from the outward facing side of the wheel. This provides more versatility and convenience in the service, repair, replacement, and upgrade of the selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors. The selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors can be removed in the course of operation and use, such as alongside a roadway, or in a driveway or street, without the need to visit a vehicle service facility. The selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors can also advantageously be swapped between motive wheels and non-motive wheels to provide flexible vehicle configuration or reconfiguration and the variable wheel drive. The motive wheels themselves can also be switched with the non-motive wheels to provide flexible vehicle configuration or reconfiguration and the variable wheel drive. For example, the selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors can also advantageously be swapped from motive wheels to non-motive wheels to change the motive wheels to non-motive wheels and vice versa, or similarly the motive wheels may be swapped with the non-motive wheels, to alter the drive type of the vehicle, such as from FWD that may be useful for certain uses or road conditions (e.g. city driving, short trips, slippery road conditions) to RWD that may be useful for different uses or road conditions (e.g. towing), or vice versa. Additional selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motors can also advantageously be added to an FWD or RWD configured vehicle to provide additional motive wheels creating an AWD or 4WD vehicle that may be useful for further different uses or road conditions (e.g. higher performance, off-road use, snow or ice road conditions, towing). Similarly, non-motive wheels may be detached from, and additional motive wheels may be attached to, an FWD or RWD configured vehicle to provide additional motive wheels creating an AWD or 4WD vehicle. These changes in vehicle drive configuration can be temporary or permanent. Thus, a vehicle that is normally configured for two wheel drive (2WD), such as for commuter or city driving, can be changed temporarily to an AWD or 4WD configuration for an event, such as a vacation or road trip or for off-road use, and then changed back to the 2WD configuration when the event is over. 
     The VWD electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis. The VWD electric vehicle comprises a first axle disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends, the opposed first axle ends axially spaced apart along a first axle axis; a pair of first axle hubs attached to the first axle ends, a pair of motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the first axle hubs, and a pair of electric hub motors each comprising a stator and a rotor, the stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs, the rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the motive wheels, the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators. The VWD electric vehicle also comprises a second axle longitudinally spaced from the first axle and disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends, the opposed second axle ends axially spaced apart along a second axle axis; a pair of second axle hubs attached to the opposed second axle ends; a pair of non-motive wheels each comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the second axle hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks each comprising a stator blank and a rotor blank, the stator blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the rotor blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, the rotor blanks configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels by and about the stator blanks. 
     As used herein, the terms front or frontward or forward or fore or rear or rearward or aft refer to the front or rear of the article or vehicle, or to a direction toward the front or rear of the article or vehicle, respectively. The terms longitudinal or along the length refers to a direction that extends along or generally parallel to an article or vehicle centerline between the front and the rear, or from one end to an opposed end. The terms transverse, lateral, or along the width, or left-right refers to a direction that is orthogonal, or substantially orthogonal, to the longitudinal direction. The terms up or upward or down or downward refer to the top or bottom of the article or vehicle, or to a direction substantially toward the top or bottom of the article or vehicle, respectively. The terms in or inner or inward refer to a direction toward the center of the article or vehicle, and out or outer or outward refers to the opposite direction away from the center or central portion of the article or vehicle. The term selectively attachable and detachable used in reference to a component indicates that a human user or operator may choose to attach or detach the component from the article or structure with which it is associated or related. 
     Referring to the figures, and particularly to  FIGS. 1-3 , a VWD electric vehicle  12  extending along longitudinal axis  11  is disclosed. The VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises a modular axle and motive wheel system  10 . The modular axle and motive wheel system  10  for the variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  comprises a first axle  20  and a pair of motive wheels  14  disposed proximate opposite ends thereof, which may also be referred to as drive wheels. The VWD electric vehicle  12  may include any type of motorized wheeled vehicle in which vehicle movement is provided and supported on spaced apart rotatable motive wheels that are rotatably disposed on an axle. The first axle  20  may comprise a front axle, real axle, or front and rear axle of the VWD electric vehicle  12 , as well as various additional or supplemental axles  20 ′ as described herein, and motive wheels  14  may comprise steerable or non-steerable wheels. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  may include all manner of wheel vehicles, including various automotive vehicles, and including all manner of cars, sport and other types of utility vehicles (SUV&#39;s), and trucks, including light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty trucks. The VWD electric vehicle  12  may also include all manner of recreational vehicles (RV&#39;s), all terrain vehicles (ATV&#39;s) and side-by-side vehicles, including utility or utility task vehicles (UTV&#39;s) and multipurpose off-highway utility vehicles (MOHUV&#39;s). The VWD electric vehicle  12  may comprise an electric vehicle (EV), where all of the motive power of the vehicle wheels is provided by electric hub motors as described herein, or a hybrid electric vehicle where the motive power of some of the vehicle wheels is provided by electric hub motors as described herein. 
     The modular axle and motive wheel system  10  may be used on the VWD electric vehicle  12  in any desired manner or location, including as a front axle  13  (e.g. in an FWD vehicle  17 ), a rear axle  15  (e.g. in an RWD vehicle  19 ), or as a front axle  13  and rear axle  15  (e.g. in an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 ). 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises a vehicle chassis  8 . The vehicle chassis  8  may comprise any fixed portion of the VWD electric vehicle  12  configured for suitable for attachment of the first axle  20 , or the vehicle suspension  28  to which the axle may be attached. The first axle  20  may be attached to the vehicle suspension  28  or the vehicle chassis  8  using known attachments, such as various threaded attachments, including threaded bolts and/or nuts. The vehicle chassis  8  may comprise the vehicle frame or body, particularly in vehicles that employ unibody construction, or a combination thereof. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of opposed first axle ends  16 ,  18  comprising a first axle  20 . The first axle  20  may comprise any suitable type of axle. In one embodiment, the first axle  20  may include a continuous axle  22 , including a solid axle or a hollow axle, that extends continuously between the first axle ends  16 ,  18 . In another embodiment, the axle  20  comprises a pair of opposed spaced apart spindles  24  disposed on opposite sides of the VWD electric vehicle  12  that are axially aligned along a first axle axis  26 . The opposed first axle ends  16 ,  18  are axially spaced apart along the first axle axis  26 . Regardless of the type of first axle  20  employed, the axle is configured for operable attachment to a vehicle suspension  28 , which may comprise all manner of conventional vehicle suspensions, including an independent suspension  30  that independently suspends the motive wheel  14  that it is operably attached to. The first axle  20  may comprise any of the axles claimed herein, and may be referred to alternately herein as a first axle or a second axle or a third axle. The first axle  20  is fixed and does not rotate about the first axle axis  26 . The first axle  20  may be made from any suitable material including various metals, such as, for example, various steel, aluminum, magnesium, or titanium alloys. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of first axle hubs  32  attached to the first axle ends  16 ,  18 . The first axle hubs  32  are cylindrical and are configured for attachment to the first axle  20  at the first axle ends  16 ,  18 . The first axle hubs  32  may be attached to respective opposed first axle ends  16 ,  18  by any suitable attachment, including by the use of a threaded fastener or fasteners (e.g. threaded bolt or stud/nut, a weld, or a similar fixed or selectively attachable and detachable attachment. The first axle hubs  32  are fixed to the first axle ends  16 ,  18  and like the first axle  20  are non-rotatable. In one embodiment the first axle hubs  32  are generally cylindrical and may be made from any suitable high strength material including various metals, such as, for example, various steel, aluminum, magnesium, or titanium alloys. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of motive wheels  14  each comprising a first inner surface  36  and a second outer surface  38  and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on respective first axle hubs  32 . The motive wheels  14  comprise the drive wheels for propulsion of the VWD electric vehicle  12 . The motive wheels  14  are rotatably disposed on the respective first axle hubs  32  in mirror image positions with the respective first inner surfaces  36  facing the first axle  20  and the respective first outer surfaces  38  facing away from the axle. The motive wheels  14  each comprise a wheel hub  40  that is generally cylindrical and extends radially outwardly away from the first axle axis  26 . The wheel hub  40  comprises first inner surface  36 , first outer surface  38 , inner end  39 , and outer end  42 . The wheel hub  40  also comprises rotor flange  44  that extends axially outwardly away from the first inner surface  36  and the first outer surface  38  at inner end  39  and extends peripherally about a rotor opening  45  that is concentric about the first axle axis  26 . The rotor flange  44  is configured for selectively attachable and detachable attachment of the rotor  46  of electric hub motor  48  that is disposed within rotor opening  45 , such as, for example, by the attachment of a plurality of threaded fasteners  52  to the rotor  46  that are received through flange bores  54 . The motive wheel  14  also comprises wheel rim  56  that is attached to the outer end  42  of wheel hub  40  and that extends axially outwardly away from the first inner surface  36  and the first outer surface  38  and is configured to receive a tire  58 , such as a selectively inflatable and deflatable tire, in sealing engagement on a rim surface  60  in a conventional manner. The wheel rim  56  also comprises a brake rotor flange  62  that is attached to the wheel rim and extends radially inwardly toward the first axle axis  26  proximate inner rim end  64 . The motive wheels  14 , including the wheel hubs  40 , wheel rims  56 , and brake rotor flanges  62 , and the elements and components thereof, may be formed from any suitable material, including various metals, such as, for example, various alloys of steel, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. 
     The brake rotor flange  62  is configured for selective attachment and detachment of a brake rotor  66  to an inner side  68  using an attachment device  70 . Any attachment device  70  suitable for selective attachment and detachment of the brake rotor may be used, such as, for example, a plurality of threaded brake rotor fasteners  72 , including threaded bolts or a combination of threaded studs and threaded nuts. 
     The brake rotor  66  comprises a cylindrical ring  74  and a caliper portion  78  that is configured for selective frictional engagement and friction braking of the vehicle with selectively movable brake pads  80  of a brake caliper  82 . The cylindrical ring  74  may optionally include a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slots  76 , such as circumferentially-extending radially spaced apart slots. The brake caliper  82  is configured for actuation as described herein to provide a braking action to the respective motive wheels  14 . The brake caliper  82  is configured for selectively attachable and detachable attachment to the outer surface  84  of the inner portion  86  of the motor housing  102 . The brake caliper  82  may be actuated to move the selectively moveable brake pads  80  inwardly and compress them against the caliper portion  78  by any suitable actuator, including a hydraulic actuator (not shown) or electrical brake actuator  88 . Electrical brake actuator  88  may include any suitable electric actuator, including an electric motor or an electric solenoid and may be in signal and power communication by brake power bus  89  and brake connector  91  with any suitable vehicle controller  90 , such as motor controller  92 , for example, that is configured for controlled application of power from a vehicle power source or battery, such as, for example, the vehicle battery  94  to controllably actuate the first brake actuator  88  to provide a braking action by controllably compressing the brake caliper  82  and selectively movable brake pads  80  against the caliper portion  78  of brake rotor  76  as is known in the art. The vehicle battery  94  for the VWD electric vehicle  12  propulsion may comprise any suitable battery electrodes and electrolytes, including lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of electric hub motors  48  that may be selectively attached and detached from the first axle hubs  32  and wheel hubs  40  as described herein, each comprising a non-rotatable stator  96  that has an axially-extending cylindrical shape and is configured to be fixed and stationary and non-rotatable, and a rotor  46  that is configured for selectively reversible rotation and is disposed radially outwardly of and concentric with the non-rotatable stator  96  and that also has an axially-extending cylindrical shape. In one embodiment, the non-rotatable stator  96  and rotor  46  comprise known components, design elements, and construction. The electric hub motor  48  may comprise any suitable type of outer rotation radial flux electric motor comprising a fixed non-rotatable stator  96  and a selectively and reversibly rotatable rotor  46 , including various alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) powered electric motors, including both brushed (BDC) and brushless (BLDC) motors. In one embodiment, the electric hub motor  48  comprises an AC electric motor and conventional power electronics including a current inverter and a voltage converter. The DC power and current from the vehicle battery  94  is converted to AC power and current using the power inverter and the voltage from the battery is stepped up to a high voltage (e.g. about 210 VDC to about 650 VAC) using the voltage converter. The power electronics may be disposed in the electric hub motor  48 , particularly the non-rotatable stator  96 , or elsewhere in the VWD electric vehicle  12 , including as a part of a vehicle controller  90 , including the motor controller  92 , or as part of the vehicle battery  94 , or on a standalone basis. The high voltage AC power may be supplied to the electric hub motor  48  by any suitable electrical power and/or signal communication device  97 , such as a power bus  98  that comprises an electrical conductor configured to electrically communicate high voltage from the power electronics, which may be electrically connected to the electric hub motor  48  by any suitable electrical power attachment, including electrical connector  100 . 
     In one embodiment, the non-rotatable stator  96  and rotor  46  are disposed within the motor housing  102  that is generally cylindrical and comprises an outer portion  104  and an opposed inner portion  86  that define the motor chamber  106  for housing the components of the electric hub motor  48 , including the non-rotatable stator  96  and rotor  46 . The outer portion  104  and opposed inner portion  86  may have any suitable shape to define the motor chamber  106 . In various embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the outer portions  104  and opposed inner portions  86  comprise respective generally hollow cylinders of the same diameter that define outer sidewalls  99  and inner sidewalls  101  and respective outer bases  110  and inner bases  112  that are attached to and orthogonal to the respective sidewalls that enclose respective outer ends  114  and inner ends  116 . Outer portions  104  and inner portions  86  define respective U-shaped cross sections. The outer portions  104  and opposed inner portions  86  are configured for placement in an opposing relationship with the outer bases  110  and inner bases  112  disposed away from one another. Placement of outer portions  104  and opposed inner portions  86  in an opposing relationship define the motor chambers  106  comprising a cylindrically shaped volume that is configured to house the cylindrical components of the electric hub motor  48  between them. The rotor  46  is rotatably disposed within the motor chamber  106  and non-rotatable housing  102 , and with respect to the non-rotatable stator  96 , between an inner bearing  105  disposed against an inner side  107  of the rotor and the outer base  110  and an outer bearing  109  disposed against an outer side  111  of the rotor and the inner base  112 . The inner bearing  105  and outer bearing  109  rotatably support the rotation of the rotor  46  and the motive wheel  14  described herein. 
     The motor housings  102  and stators  96  are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs  32  by any suitable stator attachment, such as, for example, a plurality of threaded hub fasteners  103 , such as stator bolts and/or rotor studs (attached to the first axle hub  32 ) and nuts, that are disposed in a corresponding plurality of housing bores  113  that extend through the motor housing  102  and stator bores  95  that extend axially through the stators  96  and may be tightened into a corresponding plurality of threaded axle hub bores  108  to attach the motor housings  102  and stators  96  to the first axle hubs  32 . 
     The rotors  46  are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the wheel hubs  40  and rotor flanges  44  that extends axially outwardly away from the first inner surfaces  36  and the first outer surfaces  38  of the wheel hubs  40  The rotors  46  are configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels  14  by and about the stators  96  by controlled application of power to the stators  96  from the motor controller  92  resulting in a selectively reversible rotational electromotive force against the rotors  46  that is configured to rotate the motive wheels  14  as is known in the art. 
     The electric hub motors  48  may be operated in a driving mode where power from the vehicle battery  94  is applied to the electric hub motors  48  and used for vehicle propulsion in a forward or reverse direction, a freewheeling mode where the electric hub motors are electrically disconnected from the battery, and a regenerative braking mode wherein a braking signal input causes the motor controller  92  to command operation of the electric hub motors in a reverse direction which slows the vehicle in its current direction of operation and causes generation of power for storage in the vehicle battery  94 . In driving situations where regenerative braking in insufficient to provide sufficient stopping power for the vehicle, a vehicle controller  90 , such as motor controller  92  may actuate the brake calipers  82  to provide additional stopping power from the friction brakes as described herein. 
     In one embodiment, the motive wheel  14  comprising the selectively attachable and detachable electric hub motor  48  may also comprises an outer wheel cover  120  configured for disposition, including sealable disposition, on the first outer surface  38  of the wheel hub  40  and/or the wheel rim  56  of the motive wheel  14 , or similarly to the non-motive wheel  14 ′ or any additional motive wheels  14 ′, as described herein. The motive wheel  14  may also comprise an inner wheel cover  122  configured for disposition, including sealable disposition, on the first inner surface  36  of the wheel hub  40  and/or wheel rim  56  of the motive wheel  14 , or similarly to the non-motive wheel  14 ′ or any additional motive wheels  14 ′, as described herein. In one embodiment, the outer wheel cover  116  is configured to enclose the cylindrical rotor  46 , the cylindrical stator  78 , and the non-rotatable axle  18 , and the inner wheel cover  118  is configured to enclose the first axle hub  32  and the mechanical friction brake  98 , and more particularly the outer wheel cover  120  and inner wheel cover  122  may be configured to sealingly enclose these components and portions of the motive wheels  14 , non-motive wheels  14 ′, and additional motive wheels  14   +  to exclude water, dirt, salt, and other contaminants. In one embodiment, the inner wheel cover  122  comprises a flexible boot  124  disposed proximate the non-rotatable first axle  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a second axle  20 ′ longitudinally spaced from the first axle  20  and disposed on the vehicle chassis  8  in the same manner as the first axle  20 , as described herein. The first axle  20  and second axle  20 ′ may be the same and comprise the same construction and elements, or be different and comprise different construction and elements. For example, the first axle  20  may comprise steerable wheels and be steerable, and the second axle  20 ′ may comprise non-steerable wheels and be non-steerable, or vice versa. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of opposed second axle ends  16 ′,  18 ′. The opposed second axle ends  16 ′,  18 ′ are axially spaced apart along a second axle axis  26 ′ and may be the same and comprise the same construction and elements as first axle ends  16 ,  18 , or be different and comprise different construction and elements. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of second axle hubs  32 ′ attached to the opposed second axle ends  16 ′,  18 ′. The second axle hubs  32 ′ may be the same and comprise the same construction and elements as first axle hubs  32 , or be different and comprise different construction and elements. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of non-motive wheels  14 ′ each comprising a second inner surface  36 ′ and a second outer surface  38 ′ and configured for radially extending non-motive rotatable disposition on respective first axle hubs  32 . The non-motive wheels  14 ′ comprise driven wheels of the VWD electric vehicle  12 . The non-motive wheels  14 ′ may have any suitable rotatable wheel construction and components. In certain embodiments, the non-motive wheels  14 ′ may have the same elements and components as the motive wheels  14 , except that they do not include the electric hub motors  48 , including rotors  46  and stators  96  and their components. With the exception of rotor blanks  46 ′ and stator blanks  96 ′, all of the other components of non-motive wheels  14 ′ may be the same as the other components of motive wheels  14 , which is indicated herein by the use of an apostrophe after the element number. Rather, the non-motive wheels  14 ′ comprise hub motor blanks  48 ′ comprising rotor blanks  46 ′ and stator blanks  96 ′. The hub motor blanks  48 ′ comprising rotor blanks  46 ′ and stator blanks  96 ′ may have any suitable construction that provides non-motive rotatable disposition of the rotor blanks&#39;  46  about the stator blanks  96 ′. In one embodiment, the rotor blanks  46 ′ and the stator blanks  96 ′ may have the same dimensions, profile, weight, and features as the rotors  46  and stators  96 , respectively, and in one embodiment may be formed from a metal, such as various steel, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium alloys. 
     The non-motive wheels  14 ′ are rotatably disposed on the respective second axle hubs  32 ′ in mirror image positions with the respective first inner surfaces  36  facing the second axle  20 ′ and the respective second outer surfaces  38 ′ facing away from the axle. The non-motive wheels  14 ′ each comprise a wheel hub  40 ′ that is generally cylindrical and extends radially outwardly away from the second axle axis  26 ′. The wheel hub  40 ′ comprises second inner surface  36 ′, second outer surface  38 ′, inner end  39 ′, and outer end  42 ′. The wheel hub  40 ′ also comprises rotor flange  44 ′ that extends axially outwardly away from the second inner surface  36 ′ and the second outer surface  38 ′ at inner end  39 ′ and extends peripherally about a rotor opening  45 ′ that is concentric about the second axle axis  26 ′. The rotor flange  44 ′ is configured for selectively attachable and detachable attachment of the rotor blanks  46 ′ of hub motor blank  48 ′ that is disposed within rotor opening  45 ′, such as, for example, by the attachment of a plurality of threaded fasteners  52 ′ to the rotor blank  46 ′ that are received through flange bores  54 ′. The non-motive wheel  14 ′ also comprises wheel rim  56 ′ that is attached to the outer end  42 ′ of wheel hub  40 ′ and that extends axially outwardly away from the second inner surface  36 ′ and the second outer surface  38 ′ and is configured to receive a tire  58 ′, such as a selectively inflatable and deflatable tire, in sealing engagement on a rim surface  60 ′ in a conventional manner. The wheel rim  56 ′ also comprises a brake rotor flange  62 ′ that is attached to the wheel rim and extends radially inwardly toward the second axle axis  26 ′ proximate inner rim end  64 ′. The non-motive wheels  14 ′, including the wheel hubs  40 ′, wheel rims  56 ′, and brake rotor flanges  62 ′, and the elements and components thereof, may be formed from any suitable material, including various metals, such as, for example, various alloys of steel, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. 
     The brake rotor flange  62 ′ is configured for selective attachment and detachment of a brake rotor  66 ′ to an inner side  68 ′ using an attachment device  70 ′. Any attachment device  70 ′ suitable for selective attachment and detachment of the brake rotor  66 ′ may be used, such as, for example, a plurality of threaded brake rotor fasteners  72 ′, including threaded bolts or a combination of threaded studs and threaded nuts. 
     The brake rotor  66 ′ comprises a cylindrical ring  74 ′ and a caliper portion  78 ′ that is configured for selective frictional engagement and friction braking of the vehicle with selectively movable brake pads  80 ′ of a brake caliper  82 ′. The cylindrical ring  74 ′ may optionally include a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart slots  76 ′, such as circumferentially-extending radially spaced apart slots. The brake caliper  82 ′ is configured for actuation as described herein to provide a braking action to the respective non-motive wheels  14 ′. The brake caliper  82 ′ is configured for selectively attachable and detachable attachment to the outer surface  84 ′ of the inner portion  86 ′ of the motor blank housing  102 ′. The brake caliper  82 ′ may be actuated to move the selectively moveable brake pads  80 ′ inwardly and compress them against the caliper portion  78 ′ by any suitable second brake actuator  88 ′, including a hydraulic actuator (not shown) or electrical second brake actuator  88 ′. Second brake actuator  88 ′ may include any suitable electric actuator, including an electric motor or an electric solenoid and may be in signal and power communication by brake power bus  89  and brake connector  91  with any suitable vehicle controller  90 , such as motor controller  92 , for example, that is configured for controlled application of power from a vehicle power source or battery, such as, for example, the vehicle battery  94  to controllably actuate the second brake actuator  88 ′ to provide a braking action by controllably compressing the brake caliper  82 ′ and selectively movable brake pads  80 ′ against the caliper portion  78 ′ of brake rotor  76 ′ as is known in the art. Although the hub motor blank  48 ′ is unpowered and the non-rotatable stator blank  96 ′ does not include the electrical circuits and electrical connections of the non-rotatable stator  96  as explained herein, the high voltage AC power may be supplied to the hub motor blank  48 ′ by any suitable electrical power and/or signal communication device  97 , such as a power bus  98  that comprises an electrical conductor configured to electrically communicate high voltage from the power electronics, which may be electrically connected to the hub motor blank  48 ′ by any suitable electrical power attachment, including electrical connector  100 . This provides the flexibility necessary to move the electric hub motors  48  and/or motive wheels  14  from first axle  20  to second axle  20 ′, or vice versa, as described herein. 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of hub motor blanks  48 ′ that may be selectively attached and detached from the second axle hubs  32 ′ and wheel hubs  40 ′ as described herein, each comprising a non-rotatable stator blank  96 ′ that has an axially-extending cylindrical shape and is configured to be fixed and stationary and non-rotatable, and a rotor blank  46 ′ that is configured for selectively reversible rotation and is disposed radially outwardly of and concentric with the non-rotatable stator blank  96 ′ and that also has an axially-extending cylindrical shape. In one embodiment, the non-rotatable stator blank  96 ′ and rotor blank  46 ′ comprise known components, design elements, and construction. 
     In one embodiment, the stator blank  96 ′ and rotor blank  46 ′ are disposed within the motor blank housing  102 ′ that is generally cylindrical and comprises an outer portion  104 ′ and an opposed inner portion  86 ′ that define the motor blank chamber  106 ′ for housing the components of the hub motor blank  48 ′, including the stator blank  96 ′ and rotor blank  46 ′. The outer portion  104 ′ and opposed inner portion  86 ′ may have any suitable shape to define the motor blank chamber  106 ′. In various embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the outer portions  104 ′ and opposed inner portions  86 ′ comprise respective generally hollow cylinders of the same diameter that define outer sidewalls  99 ′ and inner sidewalls  101 ′ and respective outer bases  110 ′ and inner bases  112 ′ that are attached to and orthogonal to the respective sidewalls that enclose respective outer ends  114 ′ and inner ends  116 ′. Outer portions  104 ′ and inner portions  86 ′ define respective U-shaped cross sections. The outer portions  104 ′ and opposed inner portions  86 ′ are configured for placement in an opposing relationship with the outer bases  110 ′ and inner bases  112 ′ disposed away from one another. Placement of outer portions  104 ′ and opposed inner portions  86 ′ in an opposing relationship define the motor blank chambers  106 ′ comprising a cylindrically shaped volume that is configured to house the cylindrical components of the hub motor blank  48 ′ between them. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the rotor blank  46 ′ is rotatably disposed within the motor blank chamber  106 ′ and motor blank housing  102 ′ which is non-rotatable, and with respect to the non-rotatable stator blank  96 ′, by a circumferentially extending bearing  150 ′ disposed between an inner diameter  152 ′ of the rotor blank  46 ′ and an outer diameter  154 ′ of the stator blank  96 ′. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the rotor blank  46 ′ is rotatably disposed within the motor blank chamber  106 ′ and motor blank housing  102 ′ which is non-rotatable, and with respect to the non-rotatable stator  96 ′, between an inner bearing  105 ′ disposed against an inner side  107 ′ of the rotor and the outer base  110 ′ and an outer bearing  109 ′ disposed against an outer side  111 ′ of the rotor and the inner base  112 ′. The inner bearing  105 ′ and outer bearing  109 ′ rotatably support the rotation of the rotor blank  46 ′ and the non-motive wheel  14 ′ as described herein. 
     The motor blank housings  102 ′ and stators blanks  96 ′ are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′ by any suitable stator attachment, such as, for example, a plurality of hub blank fasteners  103 ′, such as threaded stator blank bolts and/or threaded rotor blank studs (attached to the second axle hub  32 ′) and nuts, that are disposed in a corresponding plurality of housing bores  113 ′ that extend through the motor blank housing  102 ′ and stator bores  95 ′ that extend axially through the stators  96 ′ and may be tightened into a corresponding plurality of threaded axle hub bores  108 ′ to attach the motor blank housings  102 ′ and stators  96 ′ to the second axle hubs  32 ′. 
     The rotor blanks  46 ′ are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the wheel hubs  40 ′ and rotor flanges  44 ′ that extends axially outwardly away from the second inner surfaces  36 ′ and the second outer surfaces  38 ′ of the wheel hubs  40 ′. The rotors blanks  46 ′ are configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels  14 ′ by and about the stators  96 . 
     The VWD electric vehicle  12  of  FIG. 1  is very advantageous because the motive wheels  14  and the electric hub motors  48 , including both the stators  96  and rotors  46 , can be removed from the exterior of the VWD electric vehicle  12  and the outward facing side of the motive wheels  14 . Therefore, the tires  58  and the electric hub motors  48  and their components may be more easily serviced by a human user without the need to access the inward facing side of the motive wheel  14  while the wheel is attached to the vehicle, or to get under the vehicle, or to elevate the vehicle. This greatly simplifies routine repair and replacement service of any or all of the components of the motive wheels  14 , particularly the tires  58 , electric hub motors  48 , wheel hubs  40 , and wheel rims  56  in the event of damage or failure. It also greatly simplifies performance upgrades of the motive wheels  14 , including replacing the tires  58 , electric hub motors  48 , wheel hubs  40 , and wheel rims  56  with higher performance counterparts, such as, for example, a new or replacement hub motor  48  that provides a higher torque output than an original inner hub motor, or that consumes less power to provide an equivalent torque output and or another motor performance characteristic (i.e. is more efficient). 
     In one embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the electric hub motors  48  and the hub motor blanks  48 ′ are configured for attachment to the first axle hub  32  and the second axle hub  32 ′, respectively, by a plurality of hub fasteners  103  and hub blank fasteners  103 ′ that extend through the motor housings  102  and electric hub motors  48 , and the motor blank housings  102 ′ and hub motor blanks  48 ′, respectively. 
     It will be understood that detachment and attachment or reattachment of the electric hub motors  48 , hub motor blanks  48 ′, and additional electric hub motors  48 + also requires detachment of the necessary electrical power and signal connections necessary to power and control the electric hub motors, and that are attached to the hub motor blanks by, for example, detachment and reattachment of electrical connectors  100 . Similarly, it will be understood that detachment and attachment or reattachment of the motive wheels  14 , non-motive wheels  14 ′, and additional wheels  14 ′ also requires detachment of the necessary electrical power and signal connections necessary to power and control the electric hub motors  48  and additional electric hub motors  48 ′, and that are attached to the hub motor blanks  48 ′ by, for example, detachment and reattachment of electrical connectors  100 . Further, it will be understood that detachment and attachment or reattachment of the motive wheels  14 , non-motive wheels  14 ′, and additional motive wheels  14 ′ also requires detachment of the necessary brake power and signal connections necessary to power and control the brake actuators  88  by, for example, detachment and reattachment of brake connectors  91 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , in one embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a front axle  13  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a rear axle  15 , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an FWD vehicle  17 . In one embodiment of the FWD vehicle  17  as illustrated generally in  FIG. 4 , the electric hub motors  48  are configured for detachment from the first axle hubs  32  and motive wheels  14 , the hub motor blanks  48 ′ are configured for detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′, and non-motive wheels  14 ′, the electric hub motors  48  are configured for attachment (i.e. reattachment) to the second axle hubs  32 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ which thereby become motive wheels  14 , and the hub motor blanks  48 ′ are configured for attachment to the first axle hubs  32  and motive wheels  14  which thereby become non-motive wheels  14 ′, and wherein the VWD electric vehicle  12  is converted from FWD vehicle  17  to an RWD vehicle  19 . In another embodiment of the FWD vehicle  17  as also illustrated generally in  FIG. 4 , the motive wheels  14  are configured for detachment from the first axle hubs  32  and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are configured for detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′. The motive wheels  14  are configured for attachment or reattachment to the second axle hubs  32 ′, and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are configured for attachment or reattachment to the first axle hubs  32 , wherein the VWD electric vehicle  12  is configured to be converted from FWD vehicle  17  to an RWD vehicle  19 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 and 6 , in one embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a front axle  13  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a rear axle  15 , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an FWD vehicle  17 . In one embodiment of the FWD vehicle  17  as illustrated generally in  FIG. 6 , the VWD electric vehicle  12  further comprises a pair of additional electric hub motors  48   +  each comprising an additional stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + , the additional stators are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′, the additional rotors  48   +  are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels  14 ′, and wherein upon detachment of the stator blanks and rotor blanks and attachment of the additional stators and the additional rotors, the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are converted to additional motive wheels  14   + , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  is converted from the FWD vehicle  17  to an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . Referring again to  FIGS. 1-4 and 6 , in another embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a front axle  13  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a rear axle  15 , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an FWD vehicle  17 . In another embodiment of the FWD vehicle  17  as also illustrated generally in  FIG. 6 , the VWD electric vehicle  12  further comprises a pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  each comprising an additional inner surface  36   +  and an additional outer surface  38   +  and configured for radially extending rotatable motive disposition on the second axle hubs  32 ′, wherein upon detachment of the non-motive wheels  14 ′ from the second axle hubs  32 ′ and attachment of the additional motive wheels  14   +  to the second axle hubs  32 ′ the VWD electric vehicle  12  is converted from the FWD vehicle  17  to an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . The additional motive wheels  14   +  comprise a pair of additional electric hub motors  48   + , each comprising an additional stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + . The additional stators are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′, the additional rotors  48   +  are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the additional motive wheels  14   + . 
     The additional motive wheels  14   +  and the additional electric hub motors  48   + , and their components, including additional rotors  46   +  and additional stators  96   + , may be the same as, including identical to, the motive wheels  14  and electric hub motors  48 , including rotors  46  and stators  96  and their components, or they may be different. For example, the additional motive wheels  14   +  and additional electric hub motors  48   +  may be configured to provide the same torque output as motive wheels  14  and electric hub motors  48 , or they may be configured to provide a different torque output, either greater or lesser. The additional electric hub motors  48   +  may be controlled and operated in the same manner as motive wheel  14  using any suitable vehicle controller  90 , including motor controller  92 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 and 5 , in one embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a rear axle  15  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a front axle  13 , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an RWD vehicle  19 . In one embodiment of the RWD vehicle  19  as illustrated generally in  FIG. 5 , the electric hub motors  48  are configured for detachment from the first axle hubs  32  and motive wheels  14 , the hub motor blanks  48 ′ are configured for detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′, and the non-motive wheels  14 ′, the electric hub motors  48  are configured for attachment (i.e. reattachment) to the second axle hubs  32 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ which thereby become motive wheels  14 , and the hub motor blanks  48 ′ are configured for attachment to the first axle hubs  32  and motive wheels  14  which thereby become non-motive wheels  14 ′, and wherein the VWD electric vehicle  12  is converted from RWD vehicle  19  to an FWD vehicle  17 . In another embodiment of the RWD vehicle  19  as also illustrated generally in  FIG. 5 , the motive wheels  14  are configured for detachment from the first axle hubs  32  and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are configured for detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′. The motive wheels  14  are configured for attachment or reattachment to the second axle hubs  32 ′, and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are configured for attachment or reattachment to the first axle hubs  32 , wherein the VWD electric vehicle  12  is configured to be converted from RWD vehicle  19  to an FWD vehicle  17 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3, 5, and 7 , in one embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a rear axle  15  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a front axle  13 , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an RWD vehicle  19 . In one embodiment of the RWD vehicle  19  as illustrated generally in  FIG. 7 , the VWD electric vehicle  12  further comprises a pair of additional electric hub motors  48   +  each comprising a non-rotatable additional stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + , the additional stators are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′, the additional rotors  48   +  are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels  14 ′, and wherein upon detachment of the stator blanks and rotor blanks and attachment of the additional stators and the additional rotors, the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are converted to additional motive wheels  14   + , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  is converted from the RWD vehicle  19  to an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3, 5, and 7 , in another embodiment of the VWD electric vehicle  12  the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a rear axle  15  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a front axle  13 , and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an RWD vehicle  19 . In another embodiment of the RWD vehicle  19  as also illustrated generally in  FIG. 7 , the VWD electric vehicle  12  further comprises a pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  each comprising an additional inner surface  36   +  and an additional outer surface  38   +  and configured for radially extending rotatable motive disposition on the second axle hubs  32 ′, wherein upon detachment of the non-motive wheels  14 ′ from the second axle hubs  32 ′ and attachment of the additional motive wheels  14   +  to the second axle hubs  32 ′ the VWD electric vehicle  12  is converted from the RWD vehicle  19  to an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . The additional motive wheels  14   +  comprise a pair of additional electric hub motors  48   + , each comprising an additional stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + . The additional stators are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs  32 ′, the additional rotors  48   +  are configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the additional motive wheels  14   + . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-13 , in certain embodiments the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises a third axle  20 ″ disposed on the vehicle chassis  8 . The third axle  20 ″ may comprise a plurality of spaced apart third axles  20 ″. The third axle  20 ″ may be the same as axle  20  or second axle  20 ′, including all of the buses and connectors and suspension components associated therewith, or may be different. For example, in certain embodiments the third axle  20 ″ may be longer in order to dispose additional motive wheels  14   +  or non-motive wheels  14 ′ outward of and spaced away from the vehicle chassis  8 , since the vehicle chassis  8  may or may not have wheel wells formed therein to accommodate the additional motive wheels  14 + or non-motive wheels  14 ′. The third axle  20 ″ may be attached to the VWD electric vehicle  12  in any manner, including during vehicle assembly or afterward as an aftermarket accessory. 
     The third axle  20 ″ (or each of the axles) comprises a pair of opposed third axle ends  16 ″,  18 ″. The opposed third axle ends  16 ″,  18 ″ are axially spaced apart along a third axle axis  26 ″. The third axle  20 ″ also comprises a pair of third axle hubs  32 ″ attached to the third axle ends  16 ″,  18 ″, wherein the third axle is disposed between the front axle  13  (e.g. first axle  20 ) and the rear axle  15  (e.g. first axle  20 ), or wherein the third axle is disposed outward of the front axle or the rear axle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-13 , in certain embodiments that include the third axle  20 ″ or axles, the VWD electric vehicle  12  also comprises a pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  for each third axle  20 ″ as described above, each comprising an additional inner surface  36   +  and an additional outer surface  38   +  and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the third axle hubs  32 ″. The additional motive wheels  14   +  also comprise additional electric hub motors  48   +  as described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in one embodiment, the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21  and the third axle  20 ″ is disposed on the vehicle chassis  8  between the front axle  13  and the rear axle  15  ( FIG. 8 ). The VWD electric vehicles  12  configured to receive the third axle  20 ″ configurations described herein in  FIGS. 8-13 , however, can include any of the drive configurations disclosed herein, including the FWD vehicle  17  ( FIG. 4 ) and RWD vehicle  19  ( FIG. 5 ). In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the third axle  20 ″ comprises a pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  as described herein attached to the third axle  20 ″. The VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises a 6 wheel AWD vehicle  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11  in one embodiment, the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21  and two third axles  20 ″ are disposed on the vehicle chassis  8  between the front axle  13  and the rear axle  15  ( FIG. 10 ). In the embodiment of  FIG. 11 a   , the third axles  32 ″ comprise two pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  as described herein attached to the third axles  32 ″. The VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an 8 wheel AWD vehicle  25  and may be incorporated into any of the vehicle types described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13  in one embodiment, the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21  with three third axles  20 ″. Two third axles  32 ″ are disposed on the vehicle chassis  8  between the front axle  13  and the rear axle  15  and one third axle  20 ″ is disposed outward of the second ( FIG. 12 ). In the embodiment of  FIG. 13 , the third axles  32 ″ comprise three pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  as described herein attached to the third axles  32 ″. The VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises a 10 wheel AWD vehicle  27 . The embodiments of  FIGS. 8-13  are only examples, and the VWD electric vehicle  12  may include any number of third axles  32 ″ and a corresponding number of pairs of additional motive wheels  14   + . These VWD electric vehicles  12  afford multi-axle configurations that enable many useful off-road vehicle configurations, including vehicle configurations with multiple third axles that provide tank-like performance due to the additional motive wheels  14   +  vehicles, as well as those adapted to hill climbing with additional motive wheels  14   +  disposed outward of the rear axle  15  and those with ditch or ravine traversing capabilities with additional motive wheels  14   +  disposed outward of the front axle  13 . The incorporation of additional motive wheels  14   +  also increases the torque output and tractive effort with the ground  9  of the VWD electric vehicles  12  for all purposes and on all ground types (e.g. asphalt and concrete roadways, gravel roads, dirt roads, and various off-road earth surface types (e.g. sand, mud, ice, snow) and conditions (e.g. wet, dry, ice covered, snow covered, debris covered), including towing, off-road uses, and high performance (e.g. more rapid acceleration) uses. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , in one embodiment, a method of using  200  a variable wheel drive electric vehicle is also disclosed. The method  200  comprises forming  210  a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  comprising: a vehicle chassis  8 ; a first axle  20  disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends  16 ,  18 , the opposed first axle ends axially spaced apart along a first axle axis  26 ; a pair of first axle hubs  32  attached to the first axle ends; a pair of motive wheels  14  each comprising an first inner surface  36  and a first outer surface  38  and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the first axle hubs; and a pair of electric hub motors  48  each comprising a non-rotatable stator  96  that is non-rotatable and a rotor  46 , the stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs  32 , the rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the motive wheels  14 , the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle  20 ′ longitudinally spaced from the first axle and disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends  16 ′,  18 ′, the opposed second axle ends axially spaced apart along a second axle axis  26 ′; a pair of second axle hubs  32 ′ attached to the opposed second axle ends; a pair of non-motive wheels  14 ′ each comprising a second inner surface  36 ′ and a second outer surface  38 ′ and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the second axle hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks  48 ′ each comprising a stator blank  96 ′ and a rotor blank  46 ′, the stator blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the rotor blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, the rotor blanks configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels by and about the stator blanks. The method  200  also comprises detaching  220  the electric hub motors  48  from the first axle hubs  32  and the motive wheels  14  and detaching the hub motor blanks  48 ′ from the second axle hubs  32 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′, and attaching the electric hub motors to the second axle hubs  32 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ which thereby become the motive wheels  14 , and attaching the hub motor blanks  48 ′ to the first axle hub  32  and the motive wheels which thereby become the non-motive wheels  14 ′, whereby the motive wheels  14  are moved from disposition along the first axle axis  26  to disposition along the second axle axis  26 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are moved from disposition along the second axle axis  26 ′ to disposition along the first axle axis  26 . Or alternately, the method  200  also comprises detaching  230  the motive wheels  14  from the first axle hub  32  and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ from the second axle hub  32 ′ and attaching the motive wheels  14  to the second axle hub  32 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ to the first axle hub  32 , whereby the motive wheels  14  are moved from disposition along the first axle axis  26  to disposition along the second axle axis  26 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′ are moved from disposition along the second axle axis  26 ′ to disposition along the first axle axis  26 . 
     In one embodiment, the method of using  200  is used with a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  where the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a front axle  13  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a rear axle  15  and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an FWD vehicle  17 , and the method of using comprises converting  250  the FWD vehicle  17  to an RWD vehicle  19   FIG. 4 ), or alternately where the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a rear axle  15  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a front axle  13  and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises a RWD vehicle  19 , and the method of using  200  comprises converting  260  the RWD vehicle  19  to an FWD vehicle  17 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , in another embodiment, a method of using  300  a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  is also disclosed. The method  300  comprises forming  310  a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  comprising: a vehicle chassis  8 ; a first axle  20  disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends  16 ,  18 , the opposed first axle ends axially spaced apart along a first axle axis  26 ; a pair of first axle hubs  32  attached to the first axle ends; a pair of motive wheels  14  each comprising a first inner surface  36  and a first outer surface  38  and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the first axle hubs; and a pair of electric hub motors  48  each comprising a non-rotatable stator  96  and a rotor  46 , the stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the first axle hubs  32 , the rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the motive wheels  14 , the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle  20 ′ longitudinally spaced from the first axle and disposed on the vehicle chassis, comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends  16 ′,  18 ′, the opposed second axle ends axially spaced apart along a second axle axis  26 ′; a pair of second axle hubs  32 ′ attached to the opposed second axle ends; a pair of non-motive wheels  14 ′ each comprising an second inner surface  36 ′ and a second outer surface  38 ′ and configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the second axle hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks  48 ′ each comprising a stator blank  96 ′ and a rotor blank  46 ′, the stator blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the rotor blanks configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels, the rotor blanks configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels by and about the stator blanks. The method  300  also comprises detaching  320  the hub motor blanks  48 ′ from the second axle hubs  32 ′ and the non-motive wheels  14 ′, and attaching  330  a pair of additional electric hub motors  48   + , each additional hub motor comprising an additional non-rotatable stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + , the additional stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the additional rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the non-motive wheels by attaching the additional stators to the second axle hubs and attaching the additional rotors to the non-motive wheels which thereby become additional motive wheels configured for reversible motive rotation by and about the additional stators, wherein the variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  comprises an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . Or alternately, the method  300  also comprises detaching  340  the non-motive wheels  14 ′ from the second axle hub  32 ′, and attaching  350  a pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  to the second axle hub  32 ′, the additional electric hub motors each comprising an additional non-rotatable stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + , the additional stators configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the second axle hubs, the additional rotors configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the additional motive wheels, the additional rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the additional motive wheels by and about the additional stators, wherein the variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  comprises an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . 
     In one embodiment, the method of using  300  is used with a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  where the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a front axle  13  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a rear axle  15  and the VWD electric vehicle comprises an FWD vehicle  17 , and the method of using  300  further comprises converting  360  the FWD vehicle  17  to an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 , or wherein the first axle  20 , or first axle, comprises a rear axle  15  and the second axle  20 ′ comprises a front axle  13  and the VWD electric vehicle  12  comprises an RWD vehicle  19 , and the method of using  300  comprises converting  370  the RWD vehicle  19  to an AWD or 4WD vehicle  21 . 
     In one embodiment, the method of using  300  is used with a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  that further comprises a third axle  20 ″ disposed on the vehicle chassis  8  comprising a pair of opposed third axle ends  16 ″,  18 ″; the opposed third axle ends axially spaced apart along a third axle axis  26 ″; a pair of third axle hubs  32 ″ attached to the third axle ends, wherein the third axle is disposed between the first axle  20 , or first axle, and the second axle  20 ′, or wherein the third axle is disposed outward of the first axle or the second axle. In this embodiment, the method of using  300  a variable wheel drive electric vehicle  12  further comprises: attaching  370  a pair of additional motive wheels  14   +  configured for radially extending rotatable disposition on the third axle hubs  32 ″, each comprising an additional inner surface  36   + , an additional outer surface  38   +  and an additional electric hub motor  48   + , the additional hub motor comprising an additional non-rotatable stator  96   +  and an additional rotor  46   + , the additional stator configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the third axle hub, the additional rotor configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the additional motive wheel, the additional rotor configured for reversible motive rotation of the additional motive wheel by and about the additional stator. 
     The term “first” as used herein in conjunction with a various elements generally is in reference to elements and components of motive wheels  14  to distinguish them from elements and components of non-motive wheels  14 ′, which have generally been designated with the term “second”, and to also distinguish them from elements and components of additional motive wheels  14   + , which have generally been designated with the terms “third” or “additional”. In certain embodiments, elements of motive wheels  14 , non-motive wheels  14 ′, and additional motive wheels  14   +  with the same names and references may be the same, or have the same size and shape, and are configured to be interchangeable, and in certain other embodiments, these elements may be different. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The modifier “about” used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity). Furthermore, unless otherwise limited all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive and combinable (e.g., ranges of “up to about 25 weight percent (wt. %), more particularly about 5 wt. % to about 20 wt. % and even more particularly about 10 wt. % to about 15 wt. %” are inclusive of the endpoints and all intermediate values of the ranges, e.g., “about 5 wt. % to about 25 wt. %, about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. %”, etc.). The use of “about” in conjunction with a listing of items is applied to all of the listed items, and in conjunction with a range to both endpoints of the range. Finally, unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The suffix “(s)” as used herein is intended to include both the singular and the plural of the term that it modifies, thereby including one or more of that term (e.g., the metal(s) includes one or more metals). Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, “an embodiment”, and so forth, means that a particular element (e.g., feature, structure, and/or characteristic) described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment described herein, and may or may not be present in other embodiments. 
     It is to be understood that the use of “comprising” in conjunction with the components or elements described herein specifically discloses and includes the embodiments that “consist essentially of” the named components (i.e., contain the named components and no other components that significantly adversely affect the basic and novel features disclosed), and embodiments that “consist of” the named components (i.e., contain only the named components). 
     While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.