After nearly a decade in development, Belgian startup Magnax claims it has developed an ultra-high power, lightweight, compact axial flux electric motor with performance figures that blow away everything in the conventional radial flux world. Crucially, it says it's worked out how to manufacture them too.

It might not have the romance of combustion engine tuning, but it seems a bit of a battle is brewing to develop the kinds of high-performance motors that will power the electric cars, motorcycles, aircraft and industrial equipment of the future.

A week ago we wrote about Equipmake's spoke motor design, which allows it to pump out some 9 kilowatts per kilogram with exceptional cooling and continuous power production ability.