A company from Oxfordshire, England has turned the electric vehicle industry on its head. YASA, a leader in axial flux motors, has unveiled a prototype that pumps out 550kW—738hp—from a tiny 13.1kg (28.9lb) package. With a power-to-weight ratio of 42kW/kg it’s more than double the best in the business.
YASA’s breakthrough comes from years of perfecting a design that’s different from the radial motors found in most electric vehicles. Founded in 2009 by Tim Woolmer during his PhD at Oxford University, YASA has developed axial flux technology, where the magnetic fields are aligned parallel to the motor’s axis rather than around it. This creates a flatter, lighter motor that delivers more power. The result is a disc of genius that’s already caught the eye of giants like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz, YASA’s parent company since 2021.
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The motor’s beauty is in its simplicity and scalability. Unlike rivals using exotic materials like cobalt-iron or complex production methods, YASA’s prototype uses standard components, making it production ready. “What we’ve achieved here is not just a number—it’s a demonstration of production-ready innovation that raises the bar for electric motor design,” said Woolmer. By not using expensive materials the motor is targeting 10,000 to 50,000 units per year at a affordable price.
Testing was done on a standard rig, with further validation on a full capacity dynamometer later this year. The numbers are mind blowing: 738hp from a motor the size of a dinner plate, weighing less than a suitcase. For comparison the previous leader, Equipmake’s HPM-400, delivers 536hp at 40kg—impressive but YASA’s motor is in a league of its own. In electric aviation where weight is critical this could save 500kg on a two-motor 100 passenger plane. On the road it means lighter, faster, more efficient electric vehicles without breaking the bank.YASA’s motors are already in some of the world’s most exciting vehicles. Lamborghini’s Temerario, a hybrid Huracan successor, has three YASA motors, each producing 148hp and 221lb ft of torque at 17.3kg. The Mercedes-AMG GT XX concept has three of these motors and over 1,341hp. Ferrari’s SF90 Stradale and Lamborghini’s Revuelto also use YASA’s technology for their electrified performance.
YASA’s new £12 million factory in Yarnton, Oxfordshire will bring this to life. Opened in 2025 the 60,000 sq ft facility will produce over 25,000 motors per year using advanced automation like CNC coil winding and laser welding for precision. “This latest initiative will enable us to apply our technology with even greater accuracy, pace and scale,” said Woolmer to Drives&Controls. The factory isn’t just about volume; it’s about making high performance motors available to everyone, from luxury brands to mainstream manufacturers.
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