WattStep presents magnet-free axial flux research at ICEM 2026

What if you could choose whether your electric motor needs rare earth magnets or not?

That is the question WattStep set out to answer. Alongside our axial flux motors, we have been exploring a magnet-free alternative: an axial flux motor where the rotor is magnetized electrically. Together with partners from Chalmers University of Technology and industry, we have now put that idea to the test. In early September, the results were presented at ICEM 2026, the 27th International Conference on Electrical Machines, in Funchal, Madeira.

The study, "Saturation effects in Axial Flux Electrically Excited Synchronous Machines", was presented by Sonja Lundmark, Associate Professor at Chalmers. The concept of electrical excitation in an axial flux motor came out of our discussions with customers about supply chain robustness and reducing dependence on rare earth materials. Within the project team, we have worked together to turn that idea into a concept, and then to develop and evaluate the results.

Why does it matter? Rare earth supply chains are under increasing pressure, and many customers want to reduce their dependence on them. The study shows how the narrow air gaps in axial flux motors affect saturation during short-term overload. It also shows that a magnet-free machine of this type can match the peak torque of a comparable permanent magnet motor by increasing the rotor current together with the stator current. In addition, the study introduces a new asymmetric rotor pole, which allows more copper and iron to be added without rotor weight increasing at the same rate.

The conference made it clear that axial flux motors are part of the future. They were highlighted as one of ten clear trends in the development of electric propulsion, which confirms the direction we have chosen at WattStep.

A big thank you to Sonja Lundmark and co-authors Christian Du-Bar (OptiDrive) and Per Forsberg (Forsberg Mechanics) for the great collaboration. This project has been carried out with the support of the Swedish Energy Agency.