'1,000 hp': This record-breaking electric motor packs Tesla Plaid EV power into a beer keg-sized device

Date:
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:05:00 +0000

Description:
The 12.5kg gas cylinder-sized motor achieves 8 kW per kilogram with a fault-tolerant design, targeting hydrogen hybrid regional aircraft under Project AMBER.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter The Fraunhofer IISB motor delivers 1,000 horsepower from a 94 kg package Power density reaches 8 kW per kg, beating typical EV motors A single motor matches three Tesla Plaid motors for total output A new electric motor developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology delivers 1,000 horsepower from a
unit roughly the size of a 12.5 kg gas cylinder and weighing just 94 kg.

The motor achieves a power density of 8 kW per kilogram, which exceeds
typical EV motors that range between 2 and 4 kW per kilogram. Even advanced aviation motors usually top out at 5 to 6 kW per kilogram, making this device a substantial leap forward. Article continues below You may like Chinese researchers just passed a massive semi-solid-state EV battery milestone This solid-state electric motorcycle battery just edged closer to reality BMW reveals i3 EV with 560-mile range but its design is splitting opinion How hairpin windings and oil cooling deliver 1,000 hp from a 94 kg package The motor uses 4 x 3 phase hairpin windings instead of conventional copper wire, allowing more copper to be packed into the same space.

This configuration produces higher current and more power while also
providing better cooling and mechanical strength.

Direct oil spray cooling removes heat faster than traditional air cooling, enabling higher output without overheating.

The combination of these techniques allows the motor to remain compact, which is critical for aircraft applications where space and weight are at a
premium. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

For context, the Tesla Model S Plaid uses three motors to reach approximately 1,020 horsepower, while this single motor achieves nearly the same output alone.

Another major innovation is the motor's use of NO15 steel, which measures
just 0.15 millimeters thick - roughly half the thickness used in most electrical motors, and thinner steel produces fewer eddy currents.

Fewer eddy currents mean less heat and greater efficiency, especially at higher speeds. The new motor can operate at approximately 21,000 rpm. What to read next Megawatt charging is go BYD's new 1,500kW EV network has gas station speeds An EV that charges to 70% in 5 minutes? It's real, and it's coming to Europe soon BYD says its Blade Battery 2.0 can deliver over 600 miles on a single charge

It is also built with four independent sections, each with its own winding, inverter, and control system - so if one section fails, the other three keep running, which is critical for aircraft safety.

This motor was developed as part of Project AMBER, a European Union Clean Aviation program targeting hydrogen fuel cell hybrid electric propulsion for regional aircraft.

The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aviation by at least 30% compared to 2020-era regional aircraft.

Avio Aero's Catalyst advanced turboprop engine pairs with the motor, and GE Aerospace also participates in the consortium.

However, Fraunhofer IISB developed the motor entirely from concept through validation, following aerospace standards.

A 94 kg motor producing 1,000 horsepower is objectively impressive, but the gap between a lab-validated prototype and certified aviation hardware remains substantial.

Project AMBER's timeline is also ambitious, but whether hydrogen fuel cells can deliver reliable power for regional routes remains unproven.

Still, for an industry that measures progress in decades, this motor represents a genuine engineering achievement. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/1-000-hp-this-record-breaking-electric-motor-pac ks-tesla-plaid-ev-power-into-a-beer-keg-sized-device


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