Discover the 5 most important criteria for buying axial flux motors. Learn about continuous torque, 10kW/kg power density, and cooling for EVs and aviation.
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Discover the 5 most important criteria for buying axial flux motors. Learn about continuous torque, 10kW/kg power density, and cooling for EVs and aviation.
In the rapidly accelerating world of electrification, selecting the right powertrain is no longer a matter of choosing a "motor" but of selecting a high-precision electromagnetic architecture. For CTOs and lead engineers in the automotive, nautical, and aerospace sectors, the move toward axial flux motor technology is a strategic leap to overcome the physical limitations of radial designs.
However, not all axial flux motors are engineered equally. At Beyond Motors, we’ve identified the five critical criteria that define the difference between a datasheet prototype and a production-ready power plant.
One of the most common pitfalls in procurement is over-indexing on "Peak Torque" values. While peak numbers look impressive on a sales brochure, they often only last for 10–15 seconds before thermal throttling kicks in.
The Criteria: Evaluate the Continuous Torque (S1 rating).As we discussed in our Detailed Axial Flux Motor Performance and Efficiency Showdown, the ability to maintain torque under sustained load is what defines a motor's true reliability. If you are engineering a marine vessel for open-sea transit or a heavy-duty industrial robot, you need a motor that doesn't just start strong but stays strong.
Power density is often cited as the "Holy Grail" of electric propulsion, especially in aviation. However, the true metric is Continuous Power Density.
The Criteria: Aim for the 10 kW/kg benchmark.The Beyond Motors AXM series is engineered to hit this threshold. By utilizing a "pancake" geometry that eliminates the heavy iron yoke found in radial motors, we deliver more power per kilogram. For UAV and eVTOL founders, this criteria is non-negotiable—every saved gram of motor mass is a gram added to your payload or battery range.
Heat is the primary enemy of magnetic flux. In a standard Axial Flux Motor, the flat surfaces create a "thermal trap" if the cooling path is not optimized.
The Criteria: Look for Direct Winding Cooling.Beyond Motors utilizes a patent-pending water cooling system that extracts heat directly from the stator. This is a crucial criterion for applications requiring high-frequency overloads. Without an efficient water-glycol loop, the motor's "efficiency island" shrinks, leading to energy waste and potential demagnetization.
Future-proofing your R&D is about modularity. If your project scales from a single-seat prototype to a multi-passenger vehicle, you shouldn't have to redesign the entire motor bay.
The Criteria: Check for Stackable Design.Our AXM series allows you to stack up to three full motors on a single shaft, multiplying power and torque up to 3x (reaching outputs of up to 1.2 MW). This allows you to maintain the same motor diameter and housing interface while scaling performance, a feature we detailed as the solution for electric mobility.
In the nautical and aerospace industries, a motor failure is not just a nuisance—it’s a safety risk.
The Criteria: Demand a Double Winding (2xUVW) option.When buying an axial flux motor, ensure it can be driven by independent inverters. Our models offer dual-phase redundancy, allowing the system to continue at 50% power in the event of a controller failure. This "limp-home" capability is a mandatory safety standard for modern eVTOLs and autonomous platforms.
Choosing an axial flux motor is about balancing these five criteria to find the "sweet spot" of torque density and thermal stability. Whether you are building the world's fastest electric racing boat or a revolutionary urban eVTOL, the hardware you choose will define your competitive advantage.
Start Your Engineering EvaluationIf your project requires custom specs, sizing, or specific project requirements, our technical team is ready to provide the specific efficiency maps and data points needed for your procurement cycle.
Configure your AXM motor today via the Beyond Motors Configurator
