Do we need hubs?
 

With the right alloy wheel, why not machine the center and press in bearing races?

Crappy MS Paint picture of my idea: ('Wheels' to the left)
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...66208348_n.jpg

As I was thinking about making a floating axle hub for a project I'm developing, I got to thinking, "Why bother with a hub?"

Besides, the obvious benefit of speedier tire changes; why not do away with it? Why not make the wheel, hub, and rotor hat one piece? There's several pounds of sprung weight and rotational mass shed right there.

So you want to integrate your brakes into the wheels then?

That and the bearings are usually located in the centerline of the tires to minimize loading

Getting those disc calipers off would be a total PITA. Drum brakes however...

I would hate to have to replace my wheels every time my brake discs need machining, or try to figure out how to machine the integrated disc... unless we went back to the brake shoe directly acting on the outside of the tire http://www.mofga.org/Portals/2/mof&g...nneth-Copp.jpg

why not perfect electronic braking and eliminate the rotor entirely?

VW has the wheel bearings pressed in to the rear brake drum and it makes them a pain to deal with, a side effect is that the rear brake drums have to be replaced more often because the brake shoes wear out and score the drums beyond repair because the shoes were not inspected as often.
Other cars where the drums are held on by the wheel being held in place are easy to check the brakes when rotating tires or changing from summer to winter tires, so I could not imagine how annoying having the wheel bearings pressed in to the wheel would be.

Look ma! No hubs!

http://www.likecool.com/Car/Motorcyc...orcycle---.jpg

I'll see you, three hublesses,...http://sbarro.perso.neuf.fr/voitures...Aero_Paris.jpg

...make that four hublesses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKx4DWsxm2g

...with: motor / generator = power / braking (regeneration!)