Changing The Scales For Motors

The electrification narrative has long been dominated by battery technology, but Helix Chief Engineer Jim Edwards makes a compelling case that motor innovation deserves an equally prominent place in the conversation. In a detailed feature for E-Mobility Engineering, Edwards explores how the company’s motorsport heritage and location in the F1 triangle has enabled a philosophy of ruthless efficiency: reducing size and weight across every conceivable application, from space launch vehicles to electric sailing vessels.

Edwards’ career trajectory traces the evolution of electric drive technology itself – from hybrid bus systems and hydrogen fuel cells through race motors to the now-iconic Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar. That motorsport-driven mentality, he argues, has become Helix’s key differentiator as the company’s client base has expanded far beyond automotive into aerospace, marine, defence and off-highway sectors. Where OEMs increasingly bring EV development in-house, Helix has pivoted to applying high-performance engineering principles to applications where every kilogram matters, whether that’s a satellite payload or the thermal management demands of a continuous marine drive cycle.

Recent geopolitical shifts around magnet sourcing, Edwards suggests, present an unexpected opportunity: a chance to revisit motor design assumptions and explore magnet-light or magnet-free architectures without sacrificing efficiency.

Read the full article: Changing the scales for motors — eMobility Engineering, July 2026