Riding high with 20 million Euros in fresh funding and a contract to power Ferrari’s first hybrid-electric automobile (pictured above), English motor manufacturer YASA is gearing up for higher production volume of its innovative axial-flux motors.
Based in Oxford, the company specializes in making axial-flux electric motors and controllers aimed at helping electrify automotive and aviation markets with both hybrid and pure electric powertrains. Designed with a radically different magnetic configuration than traditional motors, axial-flux motors typically are lighter yet have high power and torque densities while using fewer magnets than a comparably rated motor. They are gaining favor with many e-mobility manufacturers seeking to maximize power while reducing vehicle weight.
The new round of funding from its venture capital partners came in September. That news followed an announcement in May that Ferrari is now in series production of its first e-vehicle, a hybrid-electric being powered by a customized axial-flux motor from YASA.
“This funding round is helping prepare the company to meet the rapidly increasing volume of demand for our electric motors and controllers from our automotive customers,” said Chris Harris, CEO of YASA.
Ferrari’s new hybrid-electric, the SF90 Stradale, was launched in May in Maranello, Italy. YASA has been working closely with Ferrari over the past two and a half years, developing a custom version of its electric motor that meets Ferrari’s demanding performance specifications. The customized version in the SF90 Stradale is highly compact with a world-leading power density of 14kW/kg, allowing Ferrari to deliver unparalleled vehicle performance whilst reducing vehicle weight, said Harris. The motors will be manufactured in YASA’s production facility in Oxford.
For more info, visit: www.yasa.com.
