an electric wheel - drive for motor vehicles , particularly automobiles with internal combustion engine , which can be installed nondestructively - reversibly in place of the brakes , with brushless , polyphasic , electronically speed - controlled electric motors individually attached to the wheels . the electric motor is a homopolar multiple - airgap axial - field motor whose rotor replaces the wheeldrum and brake - disk , and whose stator replaces the brake - shoes , brake - pads , and brake splash - shield plate of at least two wheels of a pair , in a conventional automobile with internal combustion engine . an electronic control system is included for the control of the axial - field motor during propulsion and braking . this electric wheel - drive allows for a fast , uncomplicated , and inexpensive hybridization of the car without modifications of the wheels , or the axle , or of other parts of the car , thereby providing the car with second , independent , propulsion system .