Who makes Axial Flux motors?

What is an Axial Flux motor?

An axial flux permanent magnet synchronous motor (AF-PMSM) is a motor in which the magnetic flux is oriented axially in reference to the shaft rotation direction. The motor is constituted of at least one rotor and one stator, where normally the rotor has surface-mounted magnets attached to a rotor yoke, and the stator is made of coils placed on a ferromagnetic or non-ferromagnetic core.  

Axial Flux technology was used in the very first electromagnetic motors which were designed and built over 200 years ago. The concept was first researched and patented by Nikola Tesla in 1889. Since the 1970s, the technology has made a comeback, and with technological advances and improvements on magnetic materials and manufacturing processes, axial flux is now stepping into the spotlight once more.  

Advantages of Axial Flux motor technology

One key advantage of an axial flux motor is the usable surface area on the axial plate, compared to the ring surface of other motors. The larger the surface area, the more magnetic material, which gives more power. As there is a larger radius than in a radial motor, the axial flux motor can produce more torque while using the same permanent magnet and copper winding provisions. Other advantages of this topology, when compared to conventional radial flux permanent magnet motors, include high efficiency and lighter weight overall, making them ideally suitable for airplanes.  

Axial Flux manufacturers

Some motor manufacturers are now producing yokeless axial flux motors, which feature a more compact, space-saving design that can provide a higher power density than other topologies.  

British electric motor manufacturer YASA, who has partnered with Mercedes-Benz, is helping to revolutionize the EV market by producing a motor that is four times more powerful than the technology currently used in EVs today. The product is also half the size and weight of existing EV motors.  

Belgium based tech startup Traxial (a Magnax company) is another manufacturer making waves in the axial flux technology space. Developing yokeless axial flux motors focused on power density, efficiency and reliability. Traxial’s parent company Magnax focuses not just on e-mobility, but also on aviation and aerospace under another subsidiary, Axyal. Texas motor manufacturer Infinitum Electric, whose technology focus lies primarily in the PCB stator, is another one to watch in the AF space.

There are numerous other players in the market, such as EMRAX (Slovenia), YASA spinoff company Evolito (UK), and others who are aiming to help revolutionize the electric motor industry with exciting new, cutting-edge axial flux motor technology. With the growth of this topology and those who are manufacturing it, it is safe to say we can expect axial flux motors to claim a larger share of the of the growing market of electric traction motors. With continuous technological advancement and more players flooding  the market, the future of axial flux motors in electric mobility and aviation, and potentially other everyday applications, looks very bright.