Latest news with #YASA
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
The Oxfordshire company making 'cutting edge' EV supercar tech
As the world continues to swap its petrol and diesel-powered cars for those that rely on electricity, an Oxfordshire company is leading the way in developing a "cutting edge" component that is crucial to all electric vehicles (EVs).YASA was formed in 2009 as a spin out of the University of Oxford, and currently supplies its motors to high-end sports an industry expert has told the BBC that the "high-performance" motors produced by YASA will "trickle down to your everyday car".The motor is one of two key components in EVs, and uses the energy stored by the battery to drive the vehicle's wheels. YASA, which was purchased by the Mercedes-Benz Group in 2021, currently supplies its axial flux motors to companies including Ferrari and Lamborghini. Axial flux technology offers better performance than alternatives, but had previously been considered commercially unviable to by arranging the the magnetic components into "pole-pieces", the Oxfordshire-based company has simplified the process to produce the motors."If you drive a hybrid or an electric car today there's almost a 100% probability that it will be a traditional radio flux machine," the company's founder and chief technology officer, Tim Woolmer explained. "YASA's technology is a completely different type of electric motor."He said the company's motor was "about a third the size and a third the weight" compared to the "best in class competing technology". Commercial director Andy North said the company was "really on the cutting edge of performance, and that's driving efficiency in the electrification of vehicles".He said the "lessons" that the company was learning would "ultimately feed into conventional cars which people will see on the roads"."Whilst really being used in the niche sports car sector today, over time we will see that filter through to Mercedes-AMG vehicles, and then into the automotive sector more broadly," Mr Woolmer added. Andy Palmer, who has been referred to as the Godfather of EVs for his work during his time as chief operating officer at Toyota, told the BBC that "trickle down has always been the way of the industry"."Generally new technology is expensive because it's low volume, but it tends to start therefore on the high-end cars and the sports cars," he said."The starting point is the technology that YASA is bringing to market - start there and will trickle down into your everyday car." YASA recently opened a new £12m factory in Yarnton, Oxfordshire, to produce its axial flux motors - which the it said provided an "unmatched electric driving experience".The company said the new factory would enable it to scale production "beyond 25,000 units" each Palmer, who is also a former CEO of Aston Martin, said it was "great news" for Oxfordshire."This is exactly the reason why the UK needs to be on the front foot when it comes to adopting EV technology and getting investment behind it," he company is also in the process of relocating to a 88,000 sq ft (8,220 sq m) headquarters near Bicester, which it expects to move into within the next 15 months. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Top Gear
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
This British company's about to give lighter, more powerful e-motor tech a huge boost
Tech YASA - used by Ferrari, AMG and Lambo - is looking to upscale. Could this be the start of something big for hybrids and EVs? Skip 6 photos in the image carousel and continue reading It's taken a while to properly industrialise axial-flux motors in the automotive space, mostly because of the complexities and costs involved. But over the last few years, supercars like the McLaren Artura, Ferrari 296 and Lamborghini Temerario have all adopted the technology from one supplier: YASA, which is now a subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz. The British firm is now aiming to produce around 25,000 axial-flux motors next year, up from just 1,000 units five years ago, operating out of its shiny new 60,000-square-foot super factory in Yanton, near Oxford. The product itself is clever, the work of Oxford University grad Tim Woolmer, who started the idea for YASA - 'Yokeless and Segmented Armature' - almost 15 years ago as a mid-semester project. Advertisement - Page continues below Axial-flux motors use the same basic permanent magnet layout as radial-flux to create magnetic fields between the rotor and stator, but where YASA's product is different is that it uses a rotor on either side of the stator. It means the magnetic lines which flow through the stator - known as the 'flux' - only head in one direction, negating the need for a stator yoke. Edge-wound coils are then placed inside, and cooling fluid fills the surrounding areas. The result of this packaging is clear: the YASA motor is 25kg lighter, 45 per cent smaller and up to four times more power-dense than most radial-flux motors. The other advantage is that it allows manufacturers greater flexibility with design. Axial motors can be placed between the transmission and engine, or wedged between a small crevice on the rear axle. You might like Take the SF90; when Ferrari's lab coats crowded round a desk and decided it'd be a hybrid, they wanted to make sure they found a motor that wouldn't lift the crank height. 'Ferrari had a strict axial length, and meant the e-motor had to fit within a certain - and very small - diameter,' Woolmer told Top Gear. 'The LaFerrari's battery and motors weigh almost 150kg, and most of this weight is sprung on the back of the vehicle. Ferrari hated this because it's the absolute worst place to add mass to a high-performance car. So it wanted to do things differently with the SF90, the 296 and whatever else follows.' Advertisement - Page continues below Woolmer also reckons his invention will allow for greater mechanical differentiation between hybrid and electric performance cars, since the motor positioning isn't as concrete as it is with radial solutions. 'For instance, the Temerario's motors are permanently attached to the engine, so it can't be clutched out, whereas the 296's is sandwiched independently just behind the engine, so there's space for a proper clutch in there. "Lamborghini's set-up has the advantages of torque vectoring, while Ferrari's has the familiarity of rear-drive only. There's pros and cons to both layouts, but the core DNA is similar. They've just been packaged differently to suit the respective manufacturer's needs and targets.' In terms of future development, he added: 'Our biggest defence - and I think all companies are the same to an extent - is speed and innovation. Every year, for the last 15 years, we've improved our product by 25 per cent. We've also developed new manufacturing techniques, so as long as we maintain our core DNA, we'll be fine. 'But the risk is that, if you get some sort of huge monopoly and start relaxing, before you know it, you'll be disrupted. I don't want us to become complacent, so we have to keep disrupting our own technology. I hope that in 10 years we look back at what we're currently doing and say, 'Oh, that was a load of rubbish.'' Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
Hindustan Times
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Mercedes-AMG working on a new electric sedan, will replace GT 4-Door Coupe
Mercedes-AMG is working on a new electric sedan, which will come as a replacement for the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. Mercedes-AMG is working on a new electric sedan, which will replace the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. Check Offers Mercedes-AMG, the performance division of the German luxury car manufacturer, is working on a new super electric sedan, which is expected to debut sometime next month, and has been revealed through a set of teaser images. Upon arrival, it will replace the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. While the OEM previously released a shadowy teaser image previewing the upcoming car's silhouette, the new set of images provides a clearer look at the unnamed car. The teaser image hints that the Mercedes-AMG will ditch the GT's liftback design for a traditional trunk. Also, it gets a clear body line separating the rear windscreen and the camouflaged rear spoiler can be figured out as well. There will be flush fitting door handles, large multi-spoke wheels and a coupe-like roof as well. The teaser images indicate that the upcoming sedan will be a long and large car. It is not clear if the rear taillights are real units or just decoys to hide the design, but the LED daytime running lights look like production-ready. Also Read : Upcoming cars in India The upcoming Mercedes-AMG car will come riding on the brand's architecture, which is supposed to result in fun-to-drive electric cars. This platform will underpin an SUV, which will use YASA's axial-flux motors that are lightweight electric motors that can churn out up to 473 bhp peak power and 800 Nm of maximum torque. The upcoming Mercedes-AMG model could come weighing a bit, which could affect how it handles. The AMG 4-Door GT plug-in hybrid with the V8 weighs more than a 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The new car will have two electric motors, giving the sedan close to 986 bhp and 1,355 Nm of maximum torque. However, it's not clear if Mercedes-AMG will put these motors one on each axle, giving the car an all-wheel drive setup, or attach both to the rear for maximum chaos Check out Upcoming EV Cars in India. First Published Date: 11 May 2025, 08:40 AM IST
Motor 1
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
AMG Has a New Super Sedan. Here's What It'll Look Like
Sometime next month, Mercedes-AMG will reveal its replacement for the GT 4-Door Coupe . We saw a shadowy teaser previewing the car's silhouette, but new images provide a clearer look at the unnamed model. It appears the new Mercedes will ditch the GT's liftback design for a traditional trunk. There's a clear body line separating the rear glass and the camouflaged rear spoiler, but it's hard to know for sure until we see the real thing. It looks like a long, large car with flush door handles, massive multi-spoke wheels, and a coupe-like roof. Photo by: Mercedes-Benz The AMG also appears to have a hood that opens , possibly revealing a front trunk. It's tough to tell if the rear taillights are real units or decoys, but the headlights look like they're production-ready daytime running lights. The new model will ride on the brand's platform, which is supposed to result in fun-to-drive electric vehicles. There'll be an SUV equivalent , with the two using YASA's axial-flux motors—lightweight e-motors that can deliver up to 480 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. We still expect the car to weight quite a bit, though, which could affect how it handles. The AMG 4-Door GT plug-in hybrid with the V-8 weighs 5,269 pounds. That's heavier than a 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport and nearly as heavy as a Chevrolet Tahoe. The new car will have two electric motors, giving the sedan close to 1,000 horsepower and over 1,000 pound-feet of torque. However, it's unclear if Mercedes will put one on each axle, giving it all-wheel drive, or attach both to the rear for maximum chaos. We say, why not both? Photo by: Mercedes-Benz We should get all the details next month when AMG takes the camouflage off. This car could be the future of the AMG brand, if its customers allow it. Something tells us it'll take more than huge power figures and futuristic looks to win people over. Check Out More Mercedes-AMG News Here: The Mercedes-AMG E53 Wagon Is Coming To America The AMG C63 Is Reportedly Dying. Mercedes Won't Comment Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Gallery: Mercedes-AMG EV Super Sedan Teasers 4 Source: Mercedes-Benz Source: Mercedes-AMG / Facebook Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
