A revolutionary electric motor developed by YASA, a British electric motor specialist, could dramatically reshape the future of electric vehicles by delivering supercar-level performance, longer driving range, and significantly reduced vehicle weight — all at the same time.
YASA has unveiled a next-generation in-wheel electric motor that combines extreme power with an exceptionally lightweight design. The motor weighs just 28 pounds (12.7 kg) yet can produce an astonishing 1,000 horsepower at peak output, while sustaining between 469 and 536 horsepower continuously. This shatters YASA’s previous record of 738 horsepower from a motor that weighed slightly more.
Compact Power That Redefines EV Performance
To put the breakthrough into perspective, the 2025 Nissan Leaf uses a single electric motor producing around 214 horsepower, while a Tesla Model S Plaid requires three motors working together to generate roughly 1,020 horsepower.
YASA’s new motor shows that similar — or even superior — performance can be achieved with far fewer components, dramatically improving efficiency and design flexibility. This makes it possible for future EVs to be both lighter and faster than today’s most advanced electric cars.
Why Axial Flux Technology Is a Game Changer
The key to the motor’s exceptional performance lies in axial flux technology. Unlike traditional radial flux motors, which rely on a cylindrical layout where magnetic fields move outward from the center, axial flux motors use a flat, disc-shaped design where magnetic flux runs parallel to the motor’s axis.
This configuration allows:
- Much higher power density
- Smaller and lighter motors
- Improved cooling and efficiency
- Better torque delivery at lower speeds
As a result, axial flux motors can generate extreme power without the size and weight penalties of conventional EV motors.
Massive Weight Savings and Better Efficiency
YASA says the motor’s design is fully scalable and does not depend on rare or exotic materials, making it suitable for wider adoption across the EV industry.
One of the biggest advantages is weight reduction. According to YASA:
- Switching to in-wheel motors could save around 440 pounds (200 kg) compared to traditional powertrains
- Vehicles designed specifically around this technology could cut up to 1,100 pounds (500 kg)
Less weight directly translates into:
- Longer battery range
- Faster acceleration
- Improved handling
- Lower energy consumption
Advanced Regenerative Braking
The system also integrates regenerative braking, which captures energy normally lost as heat during braking and converts it back into electricity to recharge the battery.
In advanced configurations, this could:
- Reduce or even eliminate traditional friction brakes
- Lower maintenance costs
- Free up space for better vehicle packaging
- Further reduce vehicle weight
What This Means for the Future of EVs
Although the current version of YASA’s in-wheel motor is aimed at high-performance EVs and supercars, the underlying technology has the potential to transform the mass-market EV segment.
Future benefits could include:
- Longer-range EVs without larger batteries
- Faster and more responsive electric cars
- More interior and cargo space
- Improved aerodynamics due to compact powertrains
- Simpler mechanical designs with fewer moving parts
By freeing manufacturers from bulky motors and drivetrains, axial flux technology could redefine how electric vehicles are built from the ground up.
A Major Leap Beyond Today’s EVs
If adopted at scale, YASA’s motor could allow future electric cars to outperform the fastest Teslas, travel farther on a single charge, and weigh significantly less — all while improving efficiency and sustainability.
As EV technology continues to evolve, innovations like this suggest that the next generation of electric vehicles may look, feel, and perform very differently from the cars we know today.
