New Quark raxial flux electric motor to further boost supercar performance
KOENIGSEGG has produced its first electric motor, the compact raxial flux unit outputting the most power and torque of any comparable unit available on the market today.
Known as the “Quark”, the 30kg unit can produce 250kW and 600Nm and is offered in single “Quark” or dual-rotor “Terrier” formats to supplement the performance of the Swedish brand’s combustion-engined supercars.
The output shafts of the Terrier unit are equipped with planetary gear sets to offer cross-axle torque vectoring and it can even be mounted directly to the vehicle chassis to further reduce weight.
Koenigsegg says it believes there are extensive uses for its e-motor duo, including in aviation and marine applications where it could provide exceptional weight savings.
The e-motors are paired to the brand’s “David” EV inverter which can convert up to 750kW of power from 850 volts DC into AC power for the Quark motors. Power is drawn from Koenigsegg’s Regera battery pack which comprises a pair of parallel strings of 192 cells, the 4.5kWh unit weighing in at just 66kg – with cooling fluids!
“The Quark is designed to bolster the low-speed range of the Gemera, where you need it, for brutal acceleration,” Koenigsegg electric motor design manager Dragos-Mihai Postariu explained.
“The ICE then focuses on the high-speed range. What this means in terms of performance for the Gemera is a big power surge followed by a continuous record-speed push to 400 km/h without any torque or power losses.”
While Koenigsegg has yet to provide in-depth details of its new e-motors, it’s understood the Quark may be used in the upcoming Gemera plug-in hybrid supercar, and possibly forthcoming Polestar models (Koenigsegg teamed up with Polestar back in June 2020), while the Terrier will power future all-electric models.
“We constructed the shaft within the Quark out of 300M steel used in motorsports and aerospace. Direct cooling was chosen for its higher cooling efficiency and compact design. Even the rotor uses the renown Koenigsegg Aircore hollow carbon-fibre technology,” Koenigsegg electric motor development manager András Székely added.
“We not only overcame the challenge of the Gemera’s powertrain requirements but also exceeded goals of making it lighter and smaller than any electric motors in this class. Without the extra driveline functions for the Gemera, the Quark can drop below 28.5 kg in weight.”
Keyword: Koenigsegg e-Motor makes 250kW weighs 30kg