[Old Professer]

I see nothing new here at all; it is not a novel concept to have the permanent magnet embedded on the outer ring (rotor); the problem of course comes from bearing loads and sprung weight.

[Poincare]

You are correct. I forget though, which is sprung weight aand which is unsprung. Dr. Porsche designed a variety of hybrid cars and locomotives in the first third of the last century and many "new" designs are quite old indeed.