YASA founder Dr Tim Woolmer receives award for development of axial flux electric motors and associated production processes.

The 24th “Porsche Award of the TU Wien” was today presented to Dr Tim Woolmer, founder and Chief Technology Officer of YASA, recognising his development of axial flux technology for electric motors. Woolmer conceived the idea for this innovation during his PhD studies at Oxford University. He then founded a spin-out and successfully developed the product and the associated manufacturing methods. In doing so, Dr Tim Woolmer enabled a significant advance in electric motor technology, particularly in the field of high-performance applications.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider, the Rector of TU Wien, Dr Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, and Dr Hans Michel Piëch, Member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, jointly presented Dr Tim Woolmer with the plaque and certificate for the Porsche Award, which includes 50,000 euros of prize money, in the university’s ceremonial hall.

Dr Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG, Dr Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, Dr Tim Woolmer, Founder and CTO of YASA Limited, Professor Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider, Rector of TU Wien, Dr Hans Michel Piëch, Member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, Jörg Miska, CEO of YASA Limited (from left to right)

Prof. Dr Uwe Dieter Grebe, new Head of the Institute of Powertrain and Automotive Technology at TU Wien since 1 September 2024, explained the jury’s decision: “The Porsche Award honours engineers for special achievements in the field of automotive development in Europe. In addition to innovative strength, it places special emphasis on taking ideas to production readiness. This particular criterion is more important today than ever before. The choice this year therefore fell on the industrialisation of a pioneering development in the field of electric motors. YASA’s axial flux electric motors enable a quadrupling of torque and a doubling of output in relation to size and save space inside the vehicle.” He added: “Axial flux electric motors also enable a chain of potential downsizings and weight savings, as vehicles can be equipped with a smaller battery while still delivering the same power and range. This in turn reduces vehicle mass and allows the use of lighter chassis components and brakes. It illustrates how starting with a superior electric motor leads to a better overall vehicle.”

Dr Oliver Blume, the CEO of Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG, referenced the figure after whom the award is named, one of the historic pioneers of electric mobility: “The same pioneering spirit that drove Ferdinand Porsche some 125 years ago also characterises today’s award winner. Dr Tim Woolmer is an electrical engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. Twenty years ago, he dedicated himself to researching axial flux electric motors. By founding YASA, he created the basis for advancing and commercialising this technology.”

With his work, Blume said, Dr Woolmer provided an important innovation boost and revitalised engineering competition in the electric drivetrain sector. This was a good thing, he said: “Our aim in the automotive industry is to continuously improve electric drive systems – to make them more efficient, and at the same time even more exciting.”

Dr Tim Woolmer, YASA Founder and CTO said: "This is a tremendous honour and validation of the journey we've been on at YASA. This recognition belongs not just to me, but to the entire YASA team who have worked tirelessly to bring this technology from the laboratory to production vehicles. Our axial flux motors represent a fundamental advancement in electric vehicle technology, delivering power density and efficiency that wasn’t previously possible."

Jörg Miska, CEO of YASA, added: "Tim's recognition with the ‘Porsche Prize’ is richly deserved and reflects both his exceptional technical vision and his unwavering commitment to innovation. His leadership has been instrumental in establishing YASA as the global leader in axial flux motor technology. This award acknowledges not only past achievements but also the transformative impact our technology will have on the future of electric mobility."

Jörg Miska, CEO of YASA Limited, Dr Tim Woolmer, Founder and CTO of YASA Limited (from left to right) with an axial flux electric motor

As early as 2013, YASA’s axial flux electric motors powered a converted Lola LeMans prototype. Further race car projects followed, for example at the legendary Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 2016. At the same time, YASA developed its own tools and production processes to manufacture these motors. They are now used by a variety of automotive and sports car brands, from Jaguar to Koenigsegg, in the Ferrari SP90, the Lamborghini Revuelto and Temerario models – and of course by Mercedes-AMG, who presented the Concept AMG GT XX based on YASA motor technology in June of this year.

YASA Limited has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes Benz AG since 2021. Alongside AMG, YASA is now venturing into larger production volumes. The plan is to build up to 25,000 motors a year at the British site in Oxfordshire. Motors are also manufactured for Mercedes in Berlin. Despite its close ties to AMG and Mercedes Benz, YASA remains strategically open to joint projects with other brands. This openness promotes upscaling of the company’s own business model and through technological competition invigorates the market as a whole.

Now in its 48th year, the “Porsche Award of the TU Wien” is once again one of the most prestigious and lucrative awards for pioneering research and development achievements in the field of automotive engineering. The internationally renowned award, which is presented every two years, was established in 1976 by Louise Piëch, the daughter of Ferdinand Porsche. It was awarded for the first time in 1977. Porsche Holding Salzburg and Dr Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart each pay half of the 50,000 euro prize money.