Torev Motors's Rare-Earth-Free Motor Hits 98% Efficiency in Simulation

Torev Motors has a 15-kilowatt prototype running in its Arlington lab [Torev Motors]. The startup's simulations show a peak efficiency of 98% for its planned 150-kilowatt motor [MPP Innovation, 2026].

Founded in 2022 by Rory Brogan and Zak Doenmez, Torev is chasing a specific wedge in the electric motor market. Its patented double-axial flux architecture is designed to sharply reduce or eliminate the use of rare-earth magnets [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief].

The Axial Flux Wedge

Torev is developing oil-cooled axial flux externally excited synchronous motors (EESMs), which do not require permanent magnets [Torev Motors]. For OEMs in automotive, aerospace, and defense, this addresses a persistent cost and sourcing headache.

A Capital-Intensive Path

Round	Amount
Pre-Seed (May 2023)	0.075 $M
Seed (Sep 2023)	0.55 $M
Series A (May 2024)	0.525 $M
Seed (May 2025)	1.5 $M

The investor list includes the U.S. Department of Energy, Dominion Energy Innovation Center, and Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation [PitchBook] [Caplight].

The Validation Hurdle

Torev's public traction includes a $20,000 prize at the Department of Energy's EPIC Pitch Competition [Department of Energy, 2026]. The company holds issued patents, including US11962209B2 [Google Patents, 2026]. The company is hiring for senior motor design engineers [Torev Motors].

What Comes After the Lab Bench

For Torev Motors, the next twelve months are about moving from internal validation to external proof:

• OEM development deal. Securing a paid partnership to co-develop a motor.
• Independent testing results. Publishing third-party verification of performance claims.
• Series A scale. Transitioning to a larger institutional round to fund pilot production lines.

The company has assembled a seed stack of roughly $1.5 million [AutoTechInsight, May 2025].

Sources

1. [Torev Motors] Torev Motors - High Performance E-Motors with Zero Rare Earths | https://www.torevmotors.com/
2. [MPP Innovation, 2026] Solution simulations show an astounding 98% peak efficiency in 150 kW motors
3. [Perplexity Sonar Pro Brief] Torev Motors company brief
4. [PitchBook] Torev Motors 2026 Company Profile: Valuation, Funding & Investors
5. [Caplight] Torev Motors investor list
6. [Department of Energy, 2026] Won $20,000 at the Summer 2024 EPIC Pitch Competition
7. [Google Patents, 2026] Assigned patent US11962209B2 for an Axial flux induction motor or generator
8. [aVenture, Feb 2024] Torev Motors had 1 employee as of February 5, 2024
9. [AutoTechInsight, May 2025] Seed (2025-08): $1,500,000