Gaining momentum
The axial flux motor sounds like a device from a sci-fi movie, but Magnax co-founders Peter Leijnen, Daan Moreels and Kester Goh seek to conquer the world with this cutting-edge technology. Supported by the University of Ghent (UGent), the engineers built an electric motor that delivers three to four times more power than best-in-class motors found in electric cars today.
Most electric cars on today’s market work according to the principle of radial flux, where magnetic flux moves perpendicular to the car’s axis. In an axial motor, however, flux occurs in parallel with the axis of the motor. The concept has existed for at least a hundred years but was considered too complex for mass production. However, in the last ten years, the technology has resurfaced and is gaining momentum.