The new electric vehicle technology you will be able to enjoy may significantly change the appearance of cars

Are the electric cars that have been popular recently a recent product? No, electric cars were invented as early as the 1910s. Electric motors for electric cars now come in a variety of forms, but they have one thing in common: their motor structure is a radial flux motor, which means that the magnetic flux of the motor is the direction of its magnetic field.

Magnetic flux is the distribution of the magnetic field. To put it simply - remember the right-hand rule for magnetic flux lines in high school physics? A radial flux motor means that the direction of the magnetic field of the electric vehicle motor is radial cylindrical, and the rotor rotates inside the cylindrical stator.

However, nowadays, another type of automotive motor has emerged - the axial flux motor, which is a motor that many automakers are paying close attention to, especially because it can work better with internal combustion engines to form a hybrid system or a range-extending system. The magnetic field direction of the axial flux motor is axial, the structure is flat, and the rotor is covered on the stator. Generally, the stator is a coil and the rotor is a permanent magnet disk, and the two sets of disks are perpendicular to the axis. In fact, the axial flux motor has been around for a long time. The first motor invented by Faraday was an axial motor, but due to technical limitations, it has not been able to rise in the automotive field for a long time.

The axial flux motor is nicknamed the "cookie jar" because of its short length and large diameter, which means it can use space more efficiently than a radial flux motor - for example, when the motor is sandwiched between a transverse engine and a gearbox, it saves space in the body of the vehicle. Axial flux motors can also produce more torque than radial flux motors.

The rotor of a traditional radial flux motor is located inside the stator and has a relatively small diameter, while the rotor and stator of an axial flux motor are like two large dinner plates facing each other. The magnetic fields of these two large plates interact, generate torque and rotate the rotor. Because they are much farther away from the motor drive shaft, the force they generate has greater leverage - this means more motor torque and lower energy consumption, which is what all manufacturers are eager for for electric vehicles where a long range of kilometers is a must.

Here is an easy-to-understand analogy: Imagine taking off the steering wheel and grabbing the steering column with your hands. This makes it difficult to turn the car, but by using a steering wheel, the force being applied is transferred to a place farther away from the steering column, which can gain more leverage to convert and output the force. This is the principle of axial flux motors, so they are also called disc motors.

More and more companies are developing this technology. YASA in Oxfordshire, England is one of the leading parts manufacturers. Its P400 motor is compact enough to be sandwiched between the engine and the transmission, but it can produce a peak power of 215 horsepower (160 kilowatts) and a peak torque of 370 Nm. YASA has also developed an electric drive unit including a motor, electronic control and a two-speed transmission. This powertrain weighs only 85kg and can produce a maximum power of 402 horsepower and a peak torque of 500 Nm. In comparison, the average weight of a four-cylinder engine is about 150 kg. Both the Jaguar CX75 and the Koenigsegg Regera use YASA's axial flux motor.

Once this small-sized electric motor matures and is put into use, it will inevitably lead to changes in the proportions of the body structure. Combined with the evolving automotive aesthetics, what will the appearance of cars look like in the future? High performance may become more and more popular, many classic designs may be reproduced, and countless innovative designs may be implemented. Will traditional cars become collectibles or luxury goods? Let's imagine together.