Magnax Develops And Manufactures A New Generation Of Electric Motors Based On Axial Flux Technology

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Below is our recent interview with Daan Moreels, CCO & Co-founder of Magnax:

Q: This is the first time we have spoken. Can you provide a brief overview of Magnax?

A: Magnax is a technology company that develops and manufactures a new generation of electric motors based on axial flux technology. Our motors and future powertrains provide a step change in efficiency, size, reliability, manufacturing resource requirement, and cost-effectiveness. The technology delivers the highest power densities (over 15-kW/kg) and a higher efficiency resulting in up to 20% more vehicle range. Our current customer portfolio consists of innovative electric vehicle manufacturers that require the high power density and compactness our motors provide. The Magnax HQ is located in Kortrijk, Belgium.

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Q: What is your main advantage of your next generation electric motors based on axial flux technology?

A: The newest axial flux topology called “yokeless” axial flux is the most effective motor topology from an electromagnetic point of view . Yokeless means that we don’t use a yoke to fix the stator cores. As a result we can use both sides of the stator to generate torque. When the yokeless AF motor is designed with an effective cooling system, like the Magnax design, motors with this topology are 3 to 4 times lighter than comparable traditional electric motors (e.g. radial flux topology). Radial flux is the motor topology that you can find in the typical EV’s today. Although the axial flux motor topology has been already known since the 19thcentury (invented by Faraday), it were the radial flux motors (invented by Nikola Tesla) that have been used in the 20th century. The main reason is that these could be manufactured on a large scale at the -then known- manufacturing methodologies.

However, universities like Oxford University and Ghent University initiated research on the yokeless AF topology in the first decennium of the 21th century. Over the last 10 years, a few startups (such as YASA and Magnax) are further developing and commercializing this motor technology with prospect to drive a large portion of the existing eMotor market in the future. Now with the accelerated acceptance of electric vehicles, the combination of compactness, efficiency and cost effectiveness are valued more and that’s exactly what this technology can provide.

Q: What’s the best thing about Magnax that people might not know about?

A: Millions of traditional eMotors will be replaced by axial flux motors in the future. Magnax has been working many years on design-for-manufacturing which resulted in the fact that our Yokeless axial flux motors can be produced by using standard automated manufacturing processes. Just like traditional eMotors. What the EV market will understand in the near future is that Magnax yokeless axial flux motors will not only bring lower weight and compactness (the known advantages of axial flux) but thanks to the fact that we can produce the motors by using standard automated manufacturing processes, they will be very cost-effective versus traditional (radial flux) eMotors. For a certain power rating, the motors are smaller and therefore require significantly less material (magnets, copper,..). That’s important to know because for mass produced products, materials usage is the dominant factor.

Also the iron mass is much lower and this has a positive impact on vehicle range (iron losses are very detrimental for the efficiency of a motor. So a low amount of iron = low losses).

EV developers understand that AF motors will result in overall simplified powertrains. New and existing EV developers can create modular drive units for all kinds of vehicles.

Q: You’ve recently raised €16,000,000 in Series A funding; can you tell us something more?

A: Magnax attracted a mix of top investors: our manufacturing partner Hirschvogel (Corporate Venture Capital), Vlerick Group (Venture Capital), Torus Capital (Venture Capital) and a number of Business Angels active in a variety of markets. Besides the financial aspect, their (market) knowledge, networks and long term vision are great assets for our ambitious growth plans. The funds will be used to recruit the best talent, deploy a pilot line, develop new products and discover new markets globally. All of this contributes to our mission to become the leader in our specific technology domain and serve a fast growing market.

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Q: What are your plans and goals for the first half of 2021?

A: Magnax is currently transitioning from a start-up to a scale up. We’re implementing improved structures in combination with the required processes to deliver high-quality products to the market of EV developers that generate consistent revenue. To accelerate our scale-up, we attract talent and specialists in their respective domains and prepare for high-volume manufacturing (together with our manufacturing partner), while we continue to strengthen our innovation projects.