EMPEL Systems
EMPEL Systems Limited is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of integrated electric motor and power electronics modules, serving automotive, aerospace, commercial vehicle, industrial, robotics, and green-tech OEMs with a modular multi-voltage eModule portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersMilton Keynes, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What EMPEL Systems does
EMPEL Systems Limited is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of integrated electric motor and power electronics modules, founded in 2019 by Jason King and John Martin. The company operates from Milton Keynes (headquarters and primary manufacturing) and Leicester (engineering/R&D), serving automotive, aerospace, commercial vehicle, off-highway, industrial, robotics, and green-tech markets as a Tier 2 supplier to OEMs and Tier 1 integrators via direct enterprise sales. Technical credibility is anchored by its design and manufacture of the 48V electric motor (MGU) and power electronics for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES hybrid power unit powering the 28-car grid, which won the 2025 Louis Schwitzer Award.
The company's core product portfolio is a modular eModule family spanning five power ranges — EM75 (up to 175,000 rpm), EM100 (30-100kW, up to 50,000 rpm), EM150 (50-350kW, up to 40,000 rpm), EM200 (150-600kW, up to 20,000+ rpm), and EM250 (250-1000kW, up to 18,000 rpm) — each offered with optional integrated 800V silicon carbide (SiC) inverters built on the LIGHTNING multi-phase platform with ASIL-compatible safety functionality. The architecture supports 48V, 450V, and 800V configurations using shared core systems, parts, tooling, and manufacturing methods. Quantified performance metrics include >15kW/kg power density (double the 2035 Automotive Council targets), peak efficiency around 97% on the EM250, and demonstrated CO2 emissions improvements of up to 25% for hybrid applications. Design and validation are supported by an Ansys CAE stack with over 5,000 hours invested in cooling system design.
EMPEL monetises through direct B2B sales of hardware modules (integrated eModules, standalone motors, and SiC inverters) and custom engineering services, with quote-based pricing on project-specific contracts. The company has secured two non-dilutive APC grants (October 2020 ARMD; £5.63M in June 2022 for the e-MOTIF project) plus Innovate UK funding via the RUBICON consortium, with no disclosed equity investment to date. Manufacturing capacity stands at 40,000 units per year at Milton Keynes, with a planned 25,000-unit-per-year Warwickshire facility under the e-MOTIF consortium with Shield Engineering Group, PUNCH Flybrid, and PFS Manufacturing; EMx motors and LIGHTNING inverters are entering series production for 2026-27 model years. Visible strategic anchors include the INDYCAR programme, the Shell Triple 10 Challenge (May 2026), and consortium work with Cenex and Romax Technology.
EMPEL Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EMPEL Systems
- Legal name
- EMPEL Systems Limited
- Website
- https://empelsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- EMPEL Systems Limited is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of integrated electric motor and power electronics modules, serving automotive, aerospace, commercial vehicle, industrial, robotics, and green-tech OEMs with a modular multi-voltage eModule portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EMPEL Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Propulsion Systems
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electric Drive Unit / E-Axle Manufacturing (Motors/Inverters/Gearboxes) (IMACACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Power Electronics Manufacturing (Inverters/DC-DC/Onboard Chargers) (IMACACAD), High-Voltage, Power Discretes & Modules (IGBT/MOSFET/SiC/GaN) (HDAHAAAK), Automotive Power Electronics & Inverters/Converters Manufacturing (IMACAJAE)
Keywords
Where EMPEL Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milton Keynes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
EMPEL Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electric Motor Sales: Sale of integrated electric motors including EM75, EM100, EM150, EM200, and EM250 eModule product families. Products range from 25kW to 1000kW power ratings serving various market segments from automotive to aerospace.
- Power Electronics Sales: Sale of integrated silicon carbide inverters and motor control systems (MCU/inverter) as standalone products or bundled with motor modules.
- Custom Motor Development: Custom-designed electric motors and power electronics solutions developed in collaboration with customers for specific applications.
- Engineering Services: Collaborative design, development, and integration services for electric propulsion systems including software control and diagnostics.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
EMPEL Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EMPEL Systems designs and manufactures integrated electric motor and power electronics modules (eModules) combining its EMx high-speed motor technology with LIGHTNING multi-phase silicon carbide (SiC) inverters. Its modular and scalable product family spans 25kW to 1000kW across 48V, 450V and 800V variants and is sold to automotive OEMs, aerospace, commercial vehicle, off-highway, robotics and green-tech manufacturers, supplemented by custom motor development and engineering services.
Product overview
EMPEL Systems offers a modular and scalable family of integrated electric motor and power electronics modules (eModules) across five product series (EM75, EM100, EM150, EM200, EM250) covering power ranges from 25kW to 1000kW. All variants feature optional integrated state-of-the-art 800V silicon carbide inverters with ASIL-compatible safety functionality. The product family shares common core systems, parts, tooling, and manufacturing methods to deliver high performance, efficiency and power density across automotive, aerospace, industrial, robotics, marine and greentech markets. The company also offers Custom Motors for bespoke solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EMx: EMPEL's motor technology platform used in INDYCAR Hybrid MGU applications, expected to enter series production in 2026-27 model years.
- LIGHTNING
- EM75 Turbo eModules
- EM100 Series eModules
- EM150 Series eModules
- EM200 Series eModules
- EM250 Series eModules
Products and services
- EM75 Turbo eModules
Quantifiable outcome
- ~97% peak motor efficiency (EM250)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use EMPEL Systems
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EMPEL Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
EMPEL Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- ShellcoreEMPEL Systems participated in Shell's Triple 10 Challenge - a strategic co-engineering initiative to demonstrate next-generation BEV performance with sub-10-minute charging, 10 km/kWh efficiency, and 10-tonne lifecycle CO2 footprint. EMPEL contributed to a fireside panel discussion highlighting cross-industry collaboration importance.
- ChevroletcoreCollaborative development of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES hybrid power unit. Chevrolet worked with EMPEL, Honda, HRC, and Ilmor Engineering to integrate EMPEL's 48V electric motor and power electronics into the hybrid system that powers all 28 Indycar grid cars.
- Honda (HRC)coreCollaborative development of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES hybrid power unit alongside Chevrolet, EMPEL, and Ilmor Engineering.
- Ilmor EngineeringcorePartner in Indycar hybrid power unit development, working with Chevrolet, Honda, and EMPEL Systems.
- Shield Engineering GroupmajorLead partner in the e-MOTIF project (electric Motor, Inverter, Flywheel). Shield provides manufacturing capability for EMPEL's e-Motor and flywheel energy storage systems. £20M facility under construction in Warwickshire.
- PUNCH FlybridmajorPartner in the e-MOTIF consortium providing F-Boost Flywheel Energy Storage System alongside EMPEL's e-Motor and Shield's manufacturing capability.
- PFS ManufacturingminorConsortium partner in the e-MOTIF project alongside Shield Engineering Group, EMPEL Systems, and PUNCH Flybrid.
- AnsyscoreEMPEL has invested heavily in Ansys computer-aided engineering software including Ansys Workbench, MotorCAD, Maxwell, Fluent, and optiSLang for multi-physics simulation of electromagnetics, thermal-transfer, mechanical interactions, and rotor-dynamics.
- CenexmajorConsortium partner in the RUBICON project (ultRa-dUraBle electrIC pOwertraiNs) funded by Innovate UK. Cenex provides driver data sets and explores differences between CAVs and existing passenger vehicles.
- Romax TechnologymajorConsortium partner in the RUBICON project bringing 30 years of experience in performance simulation, testing and design. Combined with EMPEL's electric motor and power electronics expertise for ultra-durable powertrain development for autonomous vehicles.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EMPEL Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nidec Corporation: World's largest manufacturer of small motors and an aggressive entrant into automotive EV traction motors via Nidec Automotive Motor. Sets the cost-down, high-volume benchmark that smaller specialists such as EMPEL must beat on total cost of ownership.
- ZF Friedrichshafen: Major German Tier 1 with high-volume EV powertrain systems, including 800V e-drives and SiC inverters. Represents the scaled incumbent EMPEL must displace to win volume OEM programs.
- BorgWarner: Global Tier 1 automotive supplier with a broad portfolio of EV motors, inverters and integrated drive modules across passenger and commercial vehicles. Not niche-specialist but a key incumbent competitor at OEM platforms.
- MAHLE Powertrain: Large automotive supplier with integrated e-axle and power electronics products for passenger and commercial vehicles. Overlaps with EMPEL on high-performance motors and Jason King's prior employer.
Direct peers
- Saietta Group: UK-headquartered maker of integrated electric drivetrains (motors + inverters) for light EVs, commercial vehicles and marine. Closely mirrors EMPEL's eModule strategy of bundling motor and inverter into one packaged product.
- YASA (a Mercedes-Benz AG company): UK-origin axial-flux EV motor specialist, now part of Mercedes-Benz. YASA is the closest direct peer to EMPEL - both sell high-performance, high-power-density e-motors to premium automotive OEMs using proprietary electromagnetic topologies.
- Equipmake: UK-based electric motors and inverters supplier targeting automotive, aerospace and industrial customers. Comparable product scope (motors + power electronics), similar customer base and overlapping UK manufacturing footprint make it a direct competitor.
- Integral Powertrain (Integral e-Drive): UK high-performance motors and inverters business and former employer of EMPEL's co-founders. Competes head-to-head in motorsport-grade and aerospace electric propulsion, with comparable high-speed motor technology.
- Evolito: UK-based electric motors and power electronics business spun out from YASA targeting the eVTOL and aerospace market. Competes directly with EMPEL on the aerospace electrification segment.
Emerging players
- Turntide Technologies: US/UK company offering integrated motor + inverter + controls for commercial vehicles, industrial and HVAC applications. Comparable horizontal platform play across multiple end markets, including EV traction-adjacent segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EMPEL Systems social profiles
Digital presenceEMPEL Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EMPEL Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
EMPEL Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EMPEL Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EMPEL Systems
What does EMPEL Systems do?
EMPEL Systems designs and manufactures integrated electric motor and power electronics modules (eModules) combining its EMx high-speed motor technology with LIGHTNING multi-phase silicon carbide (SiC) inverters. Its modular and scalable product family spans 25kW to 1000kW across 48V, 450V and 800V variants and is sold to automotive OEMs, aerospace, commercial vehicle, off-highway, robotics and green-tech manufacturers, supplemented by custom motor development and engineering services.
Is EMPEL Systems a public or private company?
EMPEL Systems is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was EMPEL Systems founded?
EMPEL Systems was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is EMPEL Systems based?
EMPEL Systems is headquartered in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does EMPEL Systems make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Electric Motor Sales are the primary driver. The others are power Electronics Sales, custom Motor Development and engineering Services.
Who are EMPEL Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nidec Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen, BorgWarner and MAHLE Powertrain. Direct peers are Saietta Group, YASA (a Mercedes-Benz AG company), Equipmake, Integral Powertrain (Integral e-Drive) and Evolito. Turntide Technologies is listed as an emerging player.
Does EMPEL Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for EMPEL Systems.
What industry is EMPEL Systems in?
EMPEL Systems's product category is Electric Propulsion Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACACAC, Electric Drive Unit / E-Axle Manufacturing (Motors/Inverters/Gearboxes), with a secondary code of IMACACAD, Power Electronics Manufacturing (Inverters/DC-DC/Onboard Chargers). Its NAICS code is 336320 and its SIC code is 3600.