New Ampere EV motor aims for power, torque benchmarks

3D printing is key to the new motor's compact, lightweight and power-dense design.

Consider an EV traction motor rated at 220 kW and weighing 10 kg (22 lb). Is it too good to be true? “We'll find out within nine months when we build it,” said Ian Foley, managing director of Equipmake, a U.K.-based specialist electric powertrain company. The product under development, known as Ampere, may be the world's most power-dense permanent magnet electric machine.

Ampere will spin up to 30,000 rpm to deliver its 20-kW/kg peak power output that is four times as power dense as a conventional electric motor. It was created using advanced additive-manufacturing technology from partner HiETA. According to Foley, the Equipmake and HiETA collaboration was ideal, with HiETA “bringing the added benefit of reduced parts count to achieve the results we are predicting,” he said.