From NEVS Legacy to Renault’s Flagship EV
In 2019, NEVS acquired Protean Electric with the intent of putting compact, high-output in-wheel motor (IWM) technology on the map. Saab fans remember the NEVS 9-3 test mules carving across frozen lakes, fine-tuning torque vectoring and durability under brutal Arctic conditions (read more). While NEVS sold Protean in 2021, the technology didn’t vanish – it matured.
Fast forward to 2025: Protean Electric has secured its first mainstream OEM partner, supplying its latest Pd18 IWMs to the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. This retro-inspired electric powerhouse delivers 540 hp exclusively through its rear wheels, enabling 0–62 mph in under 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 167 mph (Renault official site).
The Pd18 System: A Compact Powerhouse
Protean’s latest Pd18 motor can deliver over 200 kW per wheel, integrating not just the drive motor but also power electronics and control systems into the hub itself. This eliminates axles, differentials, and driveshafts, reducing mechanical losses while offering precise torque distribution for enhanced handling.
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E benefits from this setup by retaining rally-car agility despite its electric underpinnings. This isn’t Protean’s first public showcase, either. The IWM-equipped 5 Turbo 3E drew crowds at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where its instant acceleration and dynamic balance turned heads (source).
Saab, Emily GT, and the Road to Production
For the Saab community, Protean’s journey feels like unfinished business finally coming full circle. After the NEVS sale in 2021 (coverage), the company’s technology appeared in concept vehicles like the Saab-rooted Emily GT, which ran a full set of Protean IWMs to demonstrate near-supercar performance with independent wheel control.
This Renault partnership is different—it’s not a concept, but a production-bound, 1,980-unit car with customer deliveries starting in 2027. For Saab enthusiasts who followed every step from NEVS’s acquisition (2019 article) to Emily GT’s reveal (Magnus Johansson story), it’s a vindication: those frozen-lake tests in Sweden were laying the groundwork for today’s commercial breakthrough.
Renault’s Play: Heritage and Hype
Choosing the 5 Turbo 3E as the launchpad was a calculated move. Renault didn’t gamble on a mass-market EV but on a limited-run halo car that taps into the nostalgia of the 1980s R5 Turbo rally legend. Priced from €155,000 (~$176,000) and capped at 1,980 units, the 3E sells exclusivity as much as technology.
Renault has already sold out production through 2028, with 850 pre-orders secured in the first week alone (Reuters). By showcasing IWMs on a collector’s performance EV, Renault can validate the tech before rolling it out to Alpine or future performance EV platforms.
Protean’s Present and Future
Now owned by BEDEO, Protean isn’t just serving Renault. Its technology is also being used in retrofit projects, such as classic Land Rover Defenders converted to EVs and commercial vans, proving its flexibility beyond sports cars. According to CEO Andrew Whitehead, the Renault project “shows clearly in-wheel motors have no limits” and confirms Protean’s path toward broader OEM adoption.
For the Saab faithful, it signals that while NEVS no longer steers the ship, the technology it championed has found a path forward. If the Renault 5 Turbo 3E succeeds, it could pave the way for IWMs in Polestar, Alpine, or even boutique EV brands, echoing Saab’s legacy of engineering daring solutions.
Why This Story Resonates with Saab Fans
The Renault 5 Turbo 3E isn’t just another EV launch—it’s the culmination of technology Saab’s successors helped nurture. It bridges NEVS’s experiments, Protean’s development, and now, Renault’s production success. While Saab may no longer build cars, its technological fingerprints remain embedded in the EV world’s next chapter.
For readers who followed Protean from NEVS’s 2019 acquisition to those snowy test sessions and onward to Emily GT, the Renault 5 Turbo 3E is proof that Saab’s pursuit of unconventional solutions continues to influence the industry—even if the badge on the hood has changed.
