YASA Motors secures $8.2 million in new funding
16 January 2014
YASA Motors, the manufacturer of highly differentiated advanced axial flux motors and generators based on its Yokeless And Segmented Armature (YASA) technology (earlier post), has raised £5 million (US$8.2 million) in new financing from a combination of existing and new investors. The money will be used to increase production capacity to meet customer demand and to expand its commercial activities.
The YASA 750 and YASA 400 axial flux motors achieve power densities of up to 10 kW/kg and torque densities which are significantly better than the nearest competitive motor topology. High power densities are achieved at relatively low speeds (2000-9000 rpm) which make the motor ideally suited for hybrid and generation markets.
YASA motors make more efficient use of key materials, and are produced with simple low cost manufacturing processes.
We are naturally delighted at the support shown by our investors who share our view of the potential for our highly differentiated electric motors. The motors are now being integrated into products by an ever increasing number of customers across a wide range of markets including marine, agriculture, industrial and construction equipment along with automotive and aerospace.
—Chris Harris, CEO of YASA Motors
Twitter gets $20 billion in an IPO but these guys have to beg to stay in business. There is something very wrong with a "free market", when It develops Viagra instead of a cure for disease.
Posted by: SJC | 16 January 2014 at 08:58 AM
The YASA e-motors seem to be so Superior to e-motors currently used in FCEVs, HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs that it is difficult to understant why they are NOT used more often?
Are they too costly?
If so, could the cost be reduced with increased mass production in other places where labor cost is much lower?
Posted by: HarveyD | 16 January 2014 at 09:11 AM
Please, take a look on this: http://www.motorsummit.ch/data/files/MS_2012/presentation/ms12_tammi.pdf
Posted by: CarCrazy | 16 January 2014 at 11:45 AM
Harvey,
Good question. I think they confused people with the hollow rotor design. Was it a hub motor? Well I guess not. The motor should not cost more to produce than the Remy 250 model used in the GM Spark.
Posted by: SJC | 16 January 2014 at 02:45 PM
A good question, Harvey. I have a feeling it's more of a marketing issue than anything else because the motors have been successful in some real world applications like the Isle of Man racing.
Of course, you rarely see an idea that is "the best" in every situation. I'm sure that the YASA motors is better in some applications than others. But I can't find which ones they're not good at yet LOL
Posted by: DaveD | 16 January 2014 at 04:48 PM
From the data available, YASA e-motors seem to have Superior power/weight ratio and could be a real advantage for ultra light weight and lighter future EVs?
Posted by: HarveyD | 17 January 2014 at 08:56 AM
EVO has some good axial motors as well, both they and YASA came out of the U.K. about the time that the world economy slumped. Call it bad timing, but we need to support these great designs no matter what.
We support entertainment and advertisement like Facebook and Twitter but give almost no investment assistance to companies like EVO and YASA. This makes no sense. The motor companies do something useful for humanity, the web sites are frivolous fluff.
Posted by: SJC | 17 January 2014 at 04:53 PM
Excellent observation SJC.
Posted by: HarveyD | 18 January 2014 at 05:52 PM
Are existing firms impeding this technology?
The ABB http://www.motorsummit.ch/data/files/MS_2012/presentation/ms12_tammi.pdf
seems a better choice as well.
Posted by: kelly | 20 January 2014 at 04:19 AM
The Yasa axie is very desirable being radial is slim package ~ 60 - 80mm wide.
But would need some special wshop practices and tools (what doesn't)
A 65mm 65KW 280mm dia 18KG 'model 250' is not yet available
eagerly awaited. Hi torque, @ low rpm.
Posted by: Arnold | 22 January 2014 at 04:03 PM