Mercedes-Benz, with its YASA (Yokeless and Segmented Armature) motor, has achieved a second world record this year for power density. Pulling 1,000 horsepower from a 12 kilogram (xx pound) motor seems a bit incredible, but Mercedes has dynomometer tests to prove it. This efffort will be in production cars within a year, according to Mercedes, and the aircraft version, produced by a division called Evolito, will probably follow shortly thereafter. Even while under development at Oxford University, the motor showed great promise, as well as great torque. This blog included the video below in 2010, with a Lotus 7 copy being flung about handily with two 40 kilowatt (53.6 horsepower) YASAs driving the rear wheels. At that time, power was limited to 75 kilowatts (100.5 hp.), although designers believed 150 kW (201 hp.) was possible. That early motor weighed 11 kilograms, or 23.2 pounds, one pound per three limited horsepower, one pound per six horsepower at the design limit. As …
