Koenigsegg Introduces The Quark, A Revolutionary Electric Motor

Koenigsegg, the supercar maker known for creating some of the fastest vehicles on the planet, has introduced a new torque vectoring EV-drive unit. Its purpose is to push the boundaries of what’s possible for its Gemera model. The package is a combination of the revolutionary Quark electric motor (2 of them) and a single David, 6-phase inverter.

The setup is called a Terrier aptly named after the characteristics of the dog breed known for its energetic and fearless demeanor. It is superior to traditional setups because the David inverter lends 3 phases to each Quark. This reduces overall weight, size and components by a significant margin.

Koenigsegg’s Quark by itself, is lighter and smaller than any other eclectic motor in its class. The first production version weighs just 30kg and produces 600Nm of torque and 250kW of power. Without the extra driveline functions in the Gemera supercar, the Quark’s overall weight can drop below 28.5 kg.

The flat packaging of the two electric motors allows the inverter (David) to slot in between them, hence creating a super-dense package. This allows the assembly to be fitted to the monocoque or chassis directly, thereby reducing obstructions to other fitments or body parts. It also helps to reduce the complexity of added subframes or weight.

The Quark uses a new torque/power-rich balance between radial(power-dense) and axial(torque-dense) flux topology that’s called Raxial Flux. Its application extends far beyond the Gemera supercar and can be used for applications that require torque-rich and highly compact e-motor systems such as in aerospace, VTOL, marine and more.

Photo Credit: Koenigsegg

Unlike traditional, small high-revving motors, the Quark doesn’t need a step-down transmission because direct drive can be achieved due to sufficient RPM right from the start. Regular motors need transmissions to achieve the required RPM and torque, which in turn adds weight and introduces energy losses.

This Quark motor system is named after the subatomic particles that are the building blocks of composite particles called hadrons which include protons and neutrons. The Quark changes the way we look at the fundamentals of magnetism, materials, cooling and packaging. By mixing the radial and axial flux layout, it offers the best torque to power to weight ratio in the industry.

Its development was led by Electric Motor Design Lead Dragos-Mihai Postariu who said, “The Quark is designed to bolster the low-speed range of the Gemera, where you need it, for brutal acceleration. The ICE then focuses on the high-speed range. What this means in terms of performance is a big power surge without any torque or power losses.”

Photo Credit: Koenigsegg

According to E-Motor Development Lead András Székely, Koenigsegg’s creation managed to circumvent weight penalties of the Quark by doing the following:

“We constructed the shaft within the Quark out of 300M steel used in motorsports and aerospace. Direct cooling was chosen for its higher cooling efficiency and compact design. Even the rotor uses the renown Koenigsegg Aircore hollow carbon fiber technology (presently used in Koenigsegg’s rims, steering wheel, seats, etc).

Koenigsegg expects to release more information on the Terrier nand its fast-gwogin HV architecture in the near future.