In the EV world, cars and motorcycles alike, everyone’s cooking up their own tech, keeping innovations locked behind paywalls to squeeze out profits. Naturally, this comes at the cost of sustainability and accessibility. This fragmented mindset, where every brand tries to reinvent the wheel, leads to higher prices, slower progress, and missed chances to speed up the shift to greener mobility.
But a few brands are starting to flip the script. One of them is Verge Motorcycles, a Finnish EV company that’s rolling out a bold new idea called Verge Next.
Verge has already made a name for itself with its sharp, high-performance electric bikes, powered by the Donut engine—a wild, hubless motor integrated right into the rear wheel. Developed with their partner Donut Lab, this ring-shaped motor helps cut weight, boost efficiency, and deliver a smoother, more direct ride. And unlike other companies that keep their tech under lock and key, Verge is opening things up.
Verge Next is their new B2B division, and it’s all about licensing their core tech, like the Donut engine and other modular components, for other brands to use in everything from scooters to e-bikes.
The Donut engine comes in different sizes to fit a wide range of two-wheelers, but Verge isn’t just offering parts. They’re offering a flexible, mix-and-match platform that helps other manufacturers save time, cut development costs, and get new models to market faster. It’s a big win for affordability and accessibility. The tech also puts sustainability front and center, with energy-saving features that reduce battery strain and extend vehicle life.
Verge is basically inviting other companies to build better EVs together, instead of competing behind closed doors.
According to Verge CEO Tuomo Lehtimäki, the interest is already there. “Dozens of companies have reached out, eager to integrate our tech,” he says. “We’re building an ecosystem where manufacturers can innovate together, improving safety and driveability across the board.” Marko Lehtimäki, CEO of Donut Lab and Verge’s chairman, adds, “This isn’t just about selling parts—it’s about enabling a new wave of electric vehicles that are better for riders and the planet.”
If Verge Next catches on, the impact could be massive. In a few years, we could start seeing more affordable electric scooters and bikes powered by Verge tech in cities all over the world. Fast forward to 2045, and this approach might even support entire networks of shared electric vehicles woven into smart cities. Go out a little further, and the ripple effect could reach rural areas too—places that have been left behind by traditional transport systems—giving them access to affordable, modular mobility.
None of that happens without a shift in mindset. Verge is betting on collaboration over competition, openness over exclusivity. And if it works, it might push the whole industry to rethink the idea that the only way forward is by keeping everything to yourself. In a space full of closed doors, Verge is propping one wide open.
And honestly, that’s something worth getting behind.
Source: Verge Motorcycles
