Why this Mercedes electric motor is a revolution

Mercedes is industrializing its axial flow motor, a more compact, lighter, and more powerful technology that could transform the electric car.

For years, the axial flow motor has fueled engineers’ hopes without ever truly moving beyond the stage of confidential production. Mercedes-Benz now believes it has reached a decisive milestone by launching large-scale manufacturing at its Berlin-Marienfelde plant. This advancement is being presented by the German manufacturer as a genuine revolution for electric vehicles.

To understand the stakes, one must pay attention to the architecture of the motor itself. Almost all current electric vehicles use so-called “radial flow” motors. In this configuration, the magnetic flux moves perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. The axial flow motor operates on a different principle: the magnetic flux flows parallel to this axis. This arrangement allows for a much more compact motor while significantly increasing its power density.

Small but very strong!

The main advantage is simple: at the same size, an axial flow motor can deliver more power and torque than a conventional electric motor. According to Mercedes, this technology offers a power density that can be up to three times higher. It also helps reduce the weight and bulk of the powertrain, two essential elements for improving performance, energy efficiency, and the range of an electric vehicle.

This innovation is the result of the work of YASA, a British company specializing in high-performance electric motors that was acquired by Mercedes-Benz in 2021. Several prestigious manufacturers have already used this technology in very exclusive models, but never on an industrial scale comparable to what the German brand is now considering.

However, the true revolution lies in manufacturing. Until now, the complexity of axial flow motors has been a major barrier to their democratization. Mercedes claims to have developed 35 new industrial processes and filed more than 30 patents to make their production viable at large scale.

This new generation of motors makes its debut on the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door electric. Equipped with three axial flow motors, the sports sedan boasts spectacular performance with a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 2.1 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h.

Beyond the numbers, Mercedes may be opening a new chapter in the history of electric vehicles. Like solid-state batteries or 800-volt architectures, the axial flow motor could become one of the key technologies of the next decade.

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