Mercedes Just Started Building The Motor That Could Change AMG EVs

Entering AMG's EV Era

With the arrival of the AMG GT 4-door, Mercedes officially has its foot in the door for high-performance electric vehicles. Sure, there are hotted-up versions of the EQE and EQS, but the GT 4-Door is on another level. With more power, more range, and greater energy efficiency, this is AMG showing what it can do with EV powertrains. If we're talking purely about engineering, AMG's latest creation is a beauty.

It's safe to say that the GT 4-Door shows what to expect from AMG's EV powertrains. We'll see more of these soon, whether we like it or not, but it's the brand moving with the times. That means it has begun mass production for its new performance motor.

The Axial Flux Motor

The AMG GT 4-Door is the first to use Mercedes' axial flux motor. It will be used on other AMG EV models down the line, and the Berlin-Marienfelde plant has begun churning these out. It's an interesting motor in terms of engineering and packaging, and we wouldn't be too surprised if more vehicles adopt this layout.

Why is it a big deal? Most EV motors we see in cars at the moment are radial-flux motors. While it's pretty compact compared to motors, say, from a decade ago, the axial flux is even smaller. More importantly, these are lighter than radial flux motors, and the lighter an object is, the less energy it needs to get moving.

You can see where this is going. EVs are heavy, and weight blunts efficiency. With a lighter axial flux motor, the batteries don't have to work as hard to power the mechanical bits. That allowed AMG to make the GT 4-door pull the numbers it does, all while reducing energy consumption.

Practical Applications

Given their packaging, these axial-flux motors can be used in a whole lot of EVs. It's compact and modular, making it easier to adapt to various platforms. Of course, installing new technology in any new car is expensive, so it's logical to put it in a flagship vehicle. Eventually, economies of scale should make it more affordable to produce, and it might even by put in compact models such as the CLA..

Combine that with the constant and rapid evolution of battery technology, and there may come a point when we see range that easily matches ICEs and hybrids. The lightweight motors already provide the power, and, as mentioned, they aid energy efficiency. With that in mind, we might see even greater changes in the EV space in the coming years.

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