As traditional automakers prepare to churn out electric vans and trucks, startups are focused more than ever on finding a competitive or technological edge to stay on the road once their bigger rivals start moving through the gears.

Spurred on by looming bans on combustion engines in China and Europe, major automakers are striving to bring their commercial electric vehicles (EV) to market fast and ensure they don’t get caught out again by another Tesla…

Now, Bedeo and Protean plan to develop new EV platforms for commercial vehicles and passenger cars using in-wheel motors, Bedeo Chief Executive Osman Boyner told Reuters.

In-wheel motors – stand-alone electric motors that can be housed in all or some the wheels of an EV – don’t need axles and powertrains so they free up more space inside vans and trucks, as well as extend battery range by reducing vehicle weights.