YASA’s axial flux motor achieved an unofficial world record, doubling industry benchmarks

Axial flux electric motor developer YASA announced it has achieved what it believes to be the highest power density for an electric motor ever, hailing the feat as an unofficial world record.

If you haven’t heard of YASA, we recommend checking out this unique company. It was founded by Dr. Tim Woolmer in 2009 while he was still studying at Oxford. Although the market outlook for EVs back then differed from today’s, Woolmer had the foresight to understand the impending need for smaller, more powerful, and more efficient electric motors.

Over the past 16 years, YASA has evolved alongside its electric motor technology, taking traditional designs dating back to the 1820s and optimizing them using modern-day technology and materials. The result is the axial flux motor – a truly viable alternative to conventional radial motors used in most EVs today.

YASA motors have been integrated in production vehicles like the Koenigsegg Regera and the Ferrari Stradale SF90 hybrid. Mercedes-Benz’s performance arm, AMG, wanted to learn more, which led to wholly acquiring YASA in 2021.

In 2023, we saw the first implementation of YASA’s axial flux motors in a Mercedes vehicle under the Vision One Eleven concept. By late 2024, we saw Mercedes’ first integration of YASA’s axial flux motors into its AMG.EA architecture featuring 800V capabilities and support for dual and tri-motor systems. At the time, YASA said each of its axial flux motors offers four times more torque and double the power of nearly all current tech on the market.

Recently, YASA proved it via real-world trials, achieving an unofficial world record in electric motor power density.

YASA nabs unofficial record for motor power density

Last week, YASA’s axial motor prototype completed real-world test trials, delivering a whopping 550 kW of power from a package weighing a mere 13.1 kg (28.9 lbs.). That power density ratio equals 42 kW/kg or 19 kW/lb.

YASA shared that the achieved energy density is nearly double the current industry benchmark without using exotic materials. YASA also shared that this axial flux motor design has mass production potential and can be scaled to 10,000 to 50,000 units per year at a “viable cost.”

The initial real-world testing of the electric motor prototype was completed on a standard rig, but YASA shared plans for additional validations on a full-capacity dyno later this year. Per the release:

While unofficial, this record represents a major milestone – not just for YASA, but for what’s possible at the cutting edge of practical, high-performance electric motor design. This is the first in a series of YASA technical breakthroughs planned for release over the coming months, with additional announcements expected this autumn and into 2026.

This is exciting stuff for electric mobility. Axial flux motors, when paired with other nascent technologies such as solid-state batteries, for instance, could one day provide drivers with fully electric, emissions-free vehicles that remain affordable while delivering range and efficiency significantly better than today’s standards. YASA is a company to watch.