Brit-built electric motor weighs 12.7kg yet delivers 1,000bhp

A Breakthrough in Electric Motor Technology

A story that highlights the ingenuity of British engineering has recently emerged from Oxfordshire, where electric motor manufacturer YASA has made a significant breakthrough. The company has reportedly set an unofficial world record for the power density of an electric motor, which is now part of a revolutionary in-wheel electric powertrain system.

Tim Woolmer, founder and CEO of YASA, emphasized the importance of this development. He stated, “In-wheel motors are the major challenge and opportunity for EVs, but until now, technology has been too heavy, limited in torque and not powerful enough.” This new concept technology is compact, powerful and light enough to be positioned inside the wheel of an EV. It is the world’s first mass-neutral in-wheel motor, capable of delivering up to 750kW per wheel. Combined with a newly developed inverter by YASA, it results in a fully integrated prototype in-wheel electric vehicle powertrain, which promises a significant improvement in weight reduction, performance and efficiency.

Power and Efficiency Redefined

The claims made by YASA are bold, but the numbers back them up. The 750kW figure translates to approximately 1,006bhp, which is no small feat. Moreover, the prototype motor weighs just 12.7kg, making it remarkably lightweight. This is a stark contrast to other high-performance motors, such as Koenigsegg's Dark Matter motor, which weighs 39kg and produces 789bhp.

In-Wheel Powertrain Development

YASA plans to pair this new motor with a 15kg dual inverter, also designed and developed in-house, to create the in-wheel powertrain. The company claims that this combination can unlock a range of game-changing benefits for future electric vehicles.

One of these benefits could be particularly dramatic. The motor is capable of handling so much regenerative braking that it could potentially eliminate the need for rear brakes. Imagine this in a hypercar with over 1,000bhp. YASA estimates that ground-up designs using this in-wheel technology could save around 500kg compared to current EV setups, without the need for disc brakes or driveshafts.

Future Applications and Testing

Currently, a fully functional in-wheel prototype powertrain is undergoing development and testing. YASA believes that this technology is not only suitable for ultra-powerful hypercars but also for all performance EV applications.

It is worth noting that YASA has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz since 2021. However, the company also supplies its motors to Ferrari for the SF90 and Lamborghini for both the V12 Revuelto and V8 Temerario hybrids.