back to article Oxford Uni boffins get things rolling at new electric motor factory

An Oxford-based electric motor company is opening a new factory it claims is capable of making 100,000 units a year. Manufacturer YASA will have its ribbon cut by UK business secretary Greg Clark, who is also to announce £184m in investment to be given to 41 UK universities for "doctoral training partnerships" (previously …

  1. anonymous boring coward Silver badge

    Ask them what they think of Brexit.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Who cares ?

      We'll still be sheep in or out.

  2. x 7

    YASA?

    I forsee the battery manufacturer Yuasa getting upset by that

  3. Dr. G. Freeman
    Coat

    YASA ?

    Can they boogie ?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygb0F-VCTPI

  4. Fonant
    Meh

    Happen to know someone who works for a YASA competitor. They used to be a UK company (Evo Electric), but Big Business (GKN) bought them and ran them into the ground. Now re-formed in Switzerland.

    http://www.phi-power.com/en/home/

    I expect YASA will dislike Brexit, and Phi-Power AG won't be that bothered by Brexit.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "only 24 per cent"

    Surely that 76% go into better paying fields is excellent news?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "only 24 per cent"

      It will be less than 76%, because you need to subtract all the Comp Sci grads who after six months are asking "would you like fries with that?"

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: "only 24 per cent"

        You are underestimating the earning potential in the fast food industry.

  6. Roland6 Silver badge

    So whats special about Yasa electric motors?

    So does YASA have meaningful (ie. UK/EU) patents on technologies being used in their motors? or

    is it just that these motors will be assembled by otherwise unemployable Oxford PPP graduates... :)

    1. Keith Oborn

      Re: So whats special about Yasa electric motors?

      They key differentiation is that YASA motors are intended to be in-wheel, so further reducing the complexity and bill of materials for an EV traction system.

      The reason this is difficult is it means low RPM, and the power output of an electric motor tends to be a product of RPM x volume - so low RPM means large volume, hence large weight.

      1. John Smith 19 Gold badge
        Unhappy

        They key differentiation is that YASA motors are intended to be in-wheel

        I don't think so.

        That tech's been around (and used) in the Magnequench series since the mid 1980's Solar Challenge races in Australia.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: So whats special about Yasa electric motors?

        > "intended to be in-wheel"

        This isn't necessarily a great idea, electric motors are heavy and if you put them outside the suspension you will increase the unsprung mass and lower the efficiency of the vehicle.

    2. JassMan
      Happy

      Re: So whats special about Yasa electric motors?

      The clue is in the name. YASA stands for "yokeless and segmented armature" which reduces the weight considerably and makes them very power density as well as high torque.

    3. Lars Silver badge
      Happy

      Re: So whats special about Yasa electric motors?

      There is yasa.com for more information.

  7. Mips

    Power

    My son was a STEM graduate but he is now an accountant. He followed all the power, cudos and money and made the appropriate career choice.

    That's just the way it is.

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