Recently, the Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven concept car made its world premiere. The new high-performance concept sports car is inspired by the classic Mercedes-Benz C 111 experimental car, revealing its future-oriented design language and innovation. It has a high-performance electric drive system, and its pure electric supercar silhouette is centered on the arcuate body design, demonstrating the Mercedes-Benz brand's "ICONIC LUXURY" design concept. More importantly, it is equipped with an axial flux motor developed by the British motor company YASA, a 100% owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, and combined with advanced high-performance batteries, pushing both power and energy efficiency to new heights. It represents a new direction in the field of electric drive for Mercedes-Benz.
The Vision One-Eleven concept car is equipped with innovative electric drive technology. Compared with the radial flux motor used in 99% of current pure electric vehicles, the innovative axial flux motor developed by YASA. The weight of the axial flux motor It is lighter, more compact, and has higher torque density, resulting in more powerful power performance.
To this end, we also specially interviewed Mr. Konstantin Neiß, head of R&D of the power system and electric drive department of Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
Q1. What considerations did Mercedes-Benz choose to acquire YASA instead of internally developing axial flux motors? How do you think the axial flux motor can emotionally shape AMG's exclusive image in the electric era compared to AMG's traditional advantages in internal combustion engine models?
Constantin Ness: We chose to acquire because YASA has realized the industrial application of axial flux motor technology in hybrid vehicles and has accumulated certain experience and experience through YASA’s first-generation motors.Technology precipitation. We can also choose YASA as a supplier to cooperate, but we prefer to master the intellectual property rights of all YASA motor technologies.
Regarding how to shape AMG’s exclusive image in the electric era, the powerful roar brought by the internal combustion engine certainly makes many high-performance enthusiasts excited, but we believe that even in the electric era, AMG will always continue to lead in driving control technology and Excellent performance, providing customers with a hearty driving experience.
Q.2 Currently, only Mercedes-Benz is developing axial flux motors. What are the technical difficulties of this product during the development process? In addition to wheel-side motors, will Mercedes-Benz launch other forms or other upgraded versions in the future?
Constantin Ness: Due to the size and weight advantages of YASA motors, we can install two YASA motors between the two wheels. If there is sufficient space, we can also choose to install two smaller radial flux motors in the same space and location, but in this case the overall weight of the motor will be heavier. If an axial flux motor is used, the weight of the motor system will be greatly reduced.
Lighter weight can bring better handling performance and lower energy consumption, and also leave more space for the battery. This is crucial for electric vehicles. When the weight of the motor is lighter, the motor can be placed on the wheel edge or hub, or kept in the car, which will affect the layout changes of the body structure.
Since the space occupied by the motor becomes smaller, more useful space can be allocated to the battery pack or provide a wider trunk space for the vehicle, which also provides designers with more design flexibility and imagination space.
Q3. How does the current YASA motor perform in terms of durability? Can it meet the requirements for service life and mileage of mass-produced models? YASA motors are currently used in high-performance models, and Mercedes-Benz has been emphasizing the energy consumption of pure electric models. How is the current energy consumption performance of YASA motors?
Constantin Ness: The durability of axial flux motors is the same as other motors, and the durability will not be limited due to technology development.
In terms of energy efficiency, axial flux motors are similar to other radial flux motors. However, because it can achieve high power output for a long time, it will actually be used more in high-performance models. When drivers drive high-performance models, they are pursuing a more extreme driving experience. The driving style will be relatively intense, and the vehicle power system will also run at a higher load level for a long time.
For example, if the motor has an output of 600 kW, the driver might use 500 kW. Using the analogy of internal combustion engine models, compared with V8 engines and four-cylinder engines, the energy efficiency of the former is actually not lower. But when we drive a vehicle equipped with a V8 engine, the intense driving style will cause the vehicle to continue to operate under a higher load state, so the vehicle's energy consumption will be higher. Of course, we also have comprehensive strategic thinking about the research and development of future motors: In order to satisfy users who pursue energy efficiency, Mercedes-Benz has also specially developed radial flux motor drive units for pure electric vehicles to achieve better performance. Energy efficiency performance.
Q4. What layout is used for the YASA motor mounted on the Vision One-Eleven concept car? Is one motor driving the rear axle or two motors driving the two rear axles respectively? What are the cost advantages between axial flux motors and radial flux motors?
Constantin Ness: The Vision One-Eleven concept car is just a research project for concept cars. With the Vision One-Eleven concept car, we are showing the possibilities for different layouts of high-performance electric motors, placing one motor on the left axle and another on the right axle, demonstrating our focus on high-performance motors in this decade. The design concept of a high-performance pure electric sports car.
This innovative motor technology brings greater design flexibility to the development of future high-performance pure electric models. Through the continuous efforts of our engineering team, we believe that this technology will become more mature in the near future.
Regarding the cost control of axial flux motors and radial flux motors, radial flux motors also have their advantages in terms of structure. Its overall structure is longer, and the length of the iron core can be adjusted to achieve different output powers, like slices of sausage.. But the axial flux motor cannot do this, so it is more necessary for it to be used in high-end models.
In terms of cost, compared with radial flux motors, axial flux motors are lighter in weight and use less materials, and the cost itself is not higher. But in the early days of axial flux motor development, the situation was different. The initial supplier market is not mature, and axial flux motor technology is difficult to mass-produce. Therefore, the cost of axial flux motors will be correspondingly higher, while radial flux motors already have a very mature supplier system.
Q5. As mentioned before, Mercedes-Benz hopes to own all intellectual property rights of YASA. This year, two plug-in hybrid supercars have used YASA motors. What do you think of this issue? If AMG only launches models equipped with YASA motors in 2025, is this time a bit late?
Constantin Ness: Mercedes-Benz will be the first automaker to launch a pure electric high-performance model equipped with YASA motors. We have always been the first in the industry. In the era of fuel vehicles, we also provided powertrains, such as gearboxes and engines, for other sports car manufacturers. It's the same strategy for YASA. But at the same time, we also hope to maintain our unique technological advantages.