Oxford: Low-weight, high-torque engines

Business Lead, Development Opportunity

Oxford University’s tech transfer company, Isis Innovation, is looking for commercial partners to develop a lightweight electric motor. The invention offers increased efficiency for a variety of high torque to low weight applications, including hybrid vehicles, renewable energy and aeronautics.

Designed and developed by the Electronic Power Group within the Engineering Department at Oxford University, the lightweight engine can be used in motor and generator applications. According to Isis, the advantages of the new design over more conventional motors include: reduced weight (due to a reduction in the amount of iron and copper used), high efficiency, improved cooling characteristics (due to a segmented design), and the fact that it is scalable for large generators such as those used in renewable energy applications.

These features combine to give a motor that is lightweight but that delivers extremely good power to weight performance. An Oxford motor for automotive application weighed just 13kg but delivered a peak torque of 130Nm (10Nm/kg) and peak power of about 50kW. Simulations show that the same motor is capable of achieving a peak torque of over 200Nm and a peak power of over 150kW.

Suitable for high torque applications, the technology could be applied to regenerative braking systems within hybrid vehicles, for example, or to wind turbines without the requirement for direct drive gearboxes. A prototype has been built which has matched its modelled characteristics.