Mercedes' Axial Flux Motor Weighs Less Than a Toddler and Delivers Over 1,000 HP | Carscoops

      The UK-based electric motor company YASA, which is owned by Mercedes-Benz, has broken its previous world record for power density.

      In a recent achievement, Yasa's prototype motor, weighing 13 kg (28 lb), has produced an impressive 59 kW per kg, equivalent to 1,006 hp, without utilizing any exotic materials. This innovative axial-flux design has tripled the performance density compared to most competitors' motors.

      Electric motors may not have an appealing appearance, as they are primarily composed of metal and wiring, but the right motor can significantly impact the feel of an electric vehicle (EV), similar to how the right tires can. Yasa’s new record-setting motor has the potential to transform EV performance.

      The UK-based company, owned by Mercedes-Benz, which intends to incorporate these motors into its next-generation vehicles such as the AMG super sedan, has surpassed its prior power density record by achieving a remarkable 59 kW (79 hp) per kilogram.

      For those unfamiliar with metric measurements, this translates to 35 hp (29 kW) per pound, representing a substantial increase over the previous record of 26 hp (19 kW) per pound or 42 kW (56 hp) per kg that Yasa set earlier this summer.

      When considering total output, the new motor weighs just 12.7 kg (28 lb) yet can achieve a short-term peak output of 750 kW, or 1,006 hp (1,020 PS). Although the continuous output is reported to be lower, it remains substantial by typical single-motor standards, and can be attained with a significantly reduced weight penalty. Yasa indicates that the steady output is around 350-400 kW (469-604 hp / 476-612 PS) from just one 28 lb motor.

      What’s particularly exciting is that this is not a theoretical model; Yasa states that the record-breaking prototype is fully operational and currently generating power on the test bench, constructed using scalable manufacturing techniques and devoid of exotic materials. This is crucial because it implies that this technology could eventually be utilized in production vehicles instead of remaining confined to laboratory settings.

      Tim Woolmer, the founder and CTO of Yasa, referred to this accomplishment as “a major validation” of the company’s advanced axial-flux motor design, which employs thinner, disc-shaped rotors that yield greater torque and power for a given mass, distinguishing it from traditional radial designs.

      “This isn’t just a concept on a screen,” Woolmer emphasized. “It’s operational, right now, on the dynos.”

      Mercedes-Benz acquired Yasa in 2021 and plans to implement the Oxfordshire firm’s axial-flux electric motor technology in its forthcoming flagship super-sedan and SUV.