Yes, the impact from a pothole can be substantial. Having an upset alignment is one thing, damaging the guts of an in-wheel motor is a totally different picture. But: when properly packaged and lightweight enough I think that is a secondary concern, you can design with that in mind given that it is more or less predictable from which direction and with which magnitude such an impact would happen. But every pound counts and the shocks+spring will have to be matched to the increased weight.