50 famously powerful “motors” and engine…
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Writer AndyKim Hit 1,214 Hit Date 25-02-21 23:14Content
Below is an **unofficial, wide-ranging list** of 50 famously powerful “motors” and engines, spanning **rocket engines**, **marine diesel engines**, **industrial electric motors**, **jet engines**, and more. Because “power” can be measured in different ways (horsepower, thrust, megawatts, etc.), this list blends multiple categories. It’s intended as an **informative overview** rather than a strict ranking, since direct comparisons across different types of machines can be challenging. Each entry includes a brief description and some context about its power output or significance.
---
## 1. RD-170 Rocket Engine
**Type**: Rocket (Liquid-propellant)
**Highlight**: Developed in the Soviet era for the Energia and Zenit launch vehicles, the RD-170 is often cited as the most powerful single-chamber rocket engine by thrust at sea level (over 1.7 million lbf / ~7,600 kN). It uses a unique four-chamber design fed by a single turbopump, enabling immense lifting capability.
---
## 2. SpaceX Raptor
**Type**: Rocket (Liquid methane/liquid oxygen)
**Highlight**: The Raptor engine powers SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy booster. It produces around 500,000+ lbf of thrust (~2,200 kN) at sea level. Fueled by methane and oxygen, it employs a full-flow staged combustion cycle, making it highly efficient and reusable.
---
## 3. F-1 Rocket Engine (Saturn V)
**Type**: Rocket (RP-1/LOX)
**Highlight**: Used on NASA’s Saturn V during the Apollo program, each F-1 engine produced ~1.5 million lbf (~6,670 kN) of thrust at sea level. Five of these engines powered the Saturn V’s first stage, sending astronauts to the Moon. The F-1 remains one of the largest single-chamber liquid-fuel rocket engines ever flown.
---
## 4. NK-33 / AJ26 Rocket Engine
**Type**: Rocket (RP-1/LOX)
**Highlight**: Originally developed for the Soviet N-1 lunar rocket, the NK-33 (later adapted as AJ26 in the U.S.) is notable for its high thrust-to-weight ratio and efficiency. Although smaller than the RD-170 or F-1, it’s still among the most powerful and efficient kerosene-fueled engines.
---
## 5. RS-25 (Space Shuttle Main Engine / SLS)
**Type**: Rocket (LH2/LOX)
**Highlight**: Formerly the Space Shuttle Main Engine, the RS-25 now powers NASA’s Space Launch System. Known for its high efficiency (specific impulse), each engine produces about 418,000 lbf (~1,860 kN) at sea level, ramping higher in a vacuum. Its reusability was proven during the Space Shuttle era.
---
## 6. Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C
**Type**: Marine two-stroke diesel engine
**Highlight**: This leviathan diesel engine powers some of the world’s largest container ships. It can exceed 80,000 horsepower, with certain versions peaking around 100,000 hp. Standing multiple stories tall, it’s famed for its immense torque and fuel efficiency in ocean freight transport.
---
## 7. Wärtsilä 31
**Type**: Marine diesel engine
**Highlight**: Recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the most efficient 4-stroke diesel engines, the Wärtsilä 31 can surpass 13 MW (roughly 17,500 hp). It is modular and used in large vessels and power plants, combining high power output with relatively low fuel consumption.
---
## 8. MAN B&W 12S90ME-C
**Type**: Marine two-stroke diesel engine
**Highlight**: Part of MAN’s ultra-long-stroke engine series, this colossal engine can exceed 100,000 hp. Designed for massive cargo ships, it offers improved efficiency and lower emissions compared to older marine engines, reflecting industry trends toward cleaner maritime propulsion.
---
## 9. General Electric GE9X
**Type**: High-bypass turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Built for the Boeing 777X, the GE9X is among the most powerful commercial jet engines, generating about 134,000 lbf of thrust. With a huge 134-inch fan diameter and advanced materials like ceramic matrix composites, it pushes the limits of fuel efficiency in aviation.
---
## 10. General Electric GE90-115B
**Type**: High-bypass turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Powering the Boeing 777, the GE90-115B once held the record for highest thrust in a commercial jet engine (127,900 lbf during testing). Known for its massive fan diameter and carbon-fiber composite blades, it helped define the modern era of large twin-engine aircraft.
---
## 11. Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
**Type**: High-bypass turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Used on the Airbus A350, the Trent XWB delivers up to 97,000 lbf of thrust. It’s celebrated for its fuel efficiency, low emissions, and cutting-edge design. Rolls-Royce’s Trent family has a strong reputation for powering wide-body jets worldwide.
---
## 12. Pratt & Whitney PW1000G (Geared Turbofan)
**Type**: Turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Though not the highest thrust on this list (up to ~33,000 lbf), the PW1000G series is noteworthy for its geared turbofan design, improving efficiency and reducing noise. It powers aircraft like the Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 jets, showcasing advanced propulsion technology.
---
## 13. Siemens 15MW Offshore Wind Turbine Motor/Generator
**Type**: Electric motor-generator (wind turbine)
**Highlight**: Modern offshore wind turbines from Siemens Gamesa can reach 14–15 MW capacity per turbine. Their huge direct-drive generators function as both motors (for start-up) and generators (during operation). Each can power tens of thousands of homes with renewable electricity.
---
## 14. GE Haliade-X 14-18MW (Wind Turbine)
**Type**: Electric motor-generator (wind turbine)
**Highlight**: The Haliade-X platform can exceed 14 MW, with prototypes aiming for 18 MW. This technology harnesses enormous rotor diameters (over 220 meters) to capture more wind energy. In testing, it broke records for daily energy production from a single turbine.
---
## 15. Bath County Pumped Storage Station Motors
**Type**: Synchronous motor-generators (hydroelectric)
**Highlight**: Located in Virginia (USA), Bath County is often cited as the largest pumped storage power station, with a total capacity of ~3,000 MW. Its reversible pump-turbines can operate as powerful electric motors when pumping water uphill for energy storage.
---
## 16. Three Gorges Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest power station by installed capacity (22,500 MW). Each generator can exceed 700 MW, functioning essentially as massive electric motors in reverse (when using pumped-storage mode in nearby facilities). It’s a global symbol of hydroelectric engineering.
---
## 17. Grand Coulee Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: This dam on the Columbia River in Washington (USA) boasts an installed capacity of around 6,800 MW. Each generator can produce hundreds of megawatts, exemplifying large-scale hydroelectric engineering. The dam significantly contributes to the region’s power supply.
---
## 18. Hoover Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: An iconic engineering marvel on the Colorado River, Hoover Dam has a capacity over 2,000 MW. While not as large as newer dams, each generator still represents a massive electric machine that has reliably powered parts of the southwestern United States for decades.
---
## 19. Itaipu Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: Straddling the border between Brazil and Paraguay, Itaipu had been the world’s largest power plant by annual generation for many years. Each of its 20 generator units can produce around 700 MW, jointly surpassing 14,000 MW total capacity.
---
## 20. EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System)
**Type**: Linear electric motor
**Highlight**: Installed on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers like the USS Gerald R. Ford, EMALS uses linear induction motors to catapult aircraft off the deck. Each launcher can deliver tens of megawatts in a rapid burst, replacing older steam catapults with more precise control.
---
## 21. London Crossrail Tunnel Boring Machine Motors
**Type**: Electric TBM drive motors
**Highlight**: Large tunnel boring machines (TBMs) can use multiple high-power electric motors (totaling thousands of horsepower) to drive cutter heads through dense soil or rock. Projects like London’s Crossrail employed TBMs that exemplify the industrial might of modern electric drive systems.
---
## 22. Komatsu 930E Mining Truck
**Type**: Diesel-electric haul truck
**Highlight**: Large mining trucks like the Komatsu 930E have diesel engines driving electric wheel motors. Each wheel motor can exceed 1,000 hp, and the entire system can handle loads of over 300 tons. This diesel-electric arrangement offers better traction and efficiency in harsh mining environments.
---
## 23. Bucyrus-Erie 2570WS Dragline
**Type**: Electric-powered dragline excavator
**Highlight**: Giant dragline excavators use electric motors for hoisting and swinging. Some units exceed 20 MW of total drive power. They operate in surface mining, moving massive amounts of overburden with each scoop, showcasing heavy-industry scale electric power.
---
## 24. Caterpillar 797F Mining Truck
**Type**: Diesel-electric haul truck
**Highlight**: Similar to the Komatsu 930E, the Caterpillar 797F uses a high-output diesel engine that drives electric generators, powering motors on the wheels. With nearly 4,000 hp from the diesel engine and robust electric traction, it’s among the largest-capacity haul trucks worldwide.
---
## 25. ABB Azipod Propulsion System
**Type**: Electric marine propulsion motor
**Highlight**: Azipods are steerable propulsion units used on cruise ships, icebreakers, and other large vessels. Each pod can exceed 20 MW, providing high maneuverability and efficiency. ABB’s Azipod system revolutionized marine propulsion by eliminating the need for rudders and stern thrusters.
---
## 26. Queen Mary 2 Propulsion Motors
**Type**: Electric propulsion for an ocean liner
**Highlight**: The RMS Queen Mary 2 uses four pods (two fixed, two azimuthing) totaling around 86 MW. Powered by diesel and gas turbine generators, these electric motors drive the 1,132-foot ocean liner across the Atlantic with both speed and comfort.
---
## 27. Siemens SGT-8000H Series (Gas Turbine Generator)
**Type**: Gas turbine generator
**Highlight**: While technically a turbine, it includes a massive electric generator stage. The SGT-8000H can reach 400–450 MW in combined cycle. The generator portion is an extremely powerful electric machine, bridging the gap between mechanical rotation and grid power.
---
## 28. Alstom GT26 Gas Turbine Generator
**Type**: Gas turbine generator
**Highlight**: Similar to Siemens’ large turbines, the Alstom GT26 is used in combined-cycle power plants, producing hundreds of megawatts. The integrated generator must handle that output, effectively operating as a giant electric motor when spinning up or in special grid support modes.
---
## 29. Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Ventilation Fans
**Type**: Industrial electric fans/motors
**Highlight**: Massive ventilation systems in large tunnels, such as the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, use multi-megawatt motors to circulate fresh air. Though not as powerful as huge generators, these fans are critical for air quality and safety in long underwater road tunnels.
---
## 30. CERN Large Hadron Collider (Cryogenic Compressors)
**Type**: Industrial electric compressors
**Highlight**: The LHC uses high-power electric compressor motors to cool superconducting magnets to near absolute zero. Each motor can draw significant power, reflecting the enormous energy demands of particle accelerators and advanced research facilities.
---
## 31. NASA’s Wind Tunnel Drive Motors (Ames Research Center)
**Type**: Industrial fan motors
**Highlight**: Large wind tunnels require powerful fans to generate high-speed airflow for aerodynamic testing. Some NASA facilities have fan drive motors that exceed 50,000 hp, allowing researchers to simulate conditions for aircraft, rockets, and reentry vehicles.
---
## 32. Steel Mill Hot Strip Mill Motors
**Type**: Industrial rolling mill motors
**Highlight**: Rolling mills for steel production can have electric motors of tens of thousands of horsepower. These motors drive enormous rollers that flatten steel slabs at high temperatures. Precise control is essential to achieve desired thickness and material properties.
---
## 33. Paper Mill Drying Cylinder Motors
**Type**: Industrial process motors
**Highlight**: Large paper mills may use multi-megawatt motors to rotate drying cylinders and pulping equipment. High torque and speed control are needed to handle massive paper reels without tearing. Efficiency is key due to continuous operation demands.
---
## 34. Bombardier ALP-45DP Locomotive
**Type**: Dual-power locomotive (diesel-electric + electric)
**Highlight**: Designed for North American commuter rail, each locomotive has multiple traction motors. When on electrified lines, it draws from overhead power, and off-wire it uses an onboard diesel generator. The combined output can exceed 4,000 hp, ensuring flexibility across different track sections.
---
## 35. GE AC6000CW Locomotive
**Type**: Diesel-electric locomotive
**Highlight**: The AC6000CW was among the most powerful single-engined diesel-electric locomotives at ~6,000 hp. It uses AC traction motors on each axle, giving strong hauling capability for heavy freight. This design represents the upper limit of conventional diesel locomotive power.
---
## 36. Transrapid Maglev Propulsion (Shanghai Maglev)
**Type**: Linear motor (maglev train)
**Highlight**: The Shanghai Maglev uses powerful linear motors to lift and propel trains up to 430 km/h (267 mph). Stators embedded in the track and magnets on the train interact to generate motion without wheels. The system’s total power capacity is several megawatts per train.
---
## 37. Tesla Model S Plaid Electric Motors
**Type**: Automotive electric motors
**Highlight**: Tesla’s tri-motor setup in the Model S Plaid can produce over 1,000 hp combined, offering extreme acceleration for a production car. Using permanent magnet synchronous motors, Tesla focuses on efficiency, thermal management, and advanced power electronics.
---
## 38. Rimac Nevera Electric Motors
**Type**: Automotive electric motors (four-motor setup)
**Highlight**: The Rimac Nevera hypercar features four electric motors delivering ~1,914 hp total. Each wheel is independently driven for precise torque vectoring. It demonstrates how electric drivetrains can outperform traditional supercars in power and acceleration.
---
## 39. Bugatti Chiron W16 Engine
**Type**: Internal combustion (quad-turbocharged W16)
**Highlight**: Although not an electric motor, the Chiron’s 8.0-liter W16 engine can produce nearly 1,500 hp. It’s one of the most powerful production car engines ever. This engineering marvel highlights the peak of internal combustion technology for luxury hypercars.
---
## 40. Koenigsegg Gemera TFG + Electric Hybrid
**Type**: Hybrid powertrain (3-cylinder ICE + electric motors)
**Highlight**: The Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG) 2.0-liter engine plus three electric motors deliver over 1,700 hp combined. It’s a demonstration of advanced hybrid engineering, where a small ICE can pair with powerful electric motors for extraordinary total output.
---
## 41. Caterpillar Electric Propulsion in Large Yachts
**Type**: Diesel-electric marine system
**Highlight**: Some superyachts use diesel generators powering electric motors for quieter, more flexible propulsion. Systems can exceed multiple megawatts, enabling large vessels to travel with reduced vibration and improved fuel efficiency.
---
## 42. Airbus E-Fan X (Experimental)
**Type**: Hybrid-electric aircraft motor
**Highlight**: Although the program was discontinued, the E-Fan X aimed to integrate a 2MW electric motor alongside conventional jet engines in a regional aircraft. It represented a significant step toward hybrid-electric flight, demonstrating the push for cleaner aviation technology.
---
## 43. Hyperloop Pod Motors
**Type**: Linear electric motors
**Highlight**: Proposed Hyperloop concepts use low-pressure tubes and linear motors to accelerate pods to near-supersonic speeds. While still experimental, test tracks demonstrate high-power electromagnetic propulsion capable of pushing capsules hundreds of kilometers per hour.
---
## 44. Formula E Racing Motors
**Type**: High-performance electric motors
**Highlight**: Formula E cars typically have motors delivering around 300 kW (~400 hp) in race trim, with higher peaks for qualifying. Though less powerful than some internal combustion race cars, Formula E technology focuses on efficiency, torque, and battery management, showcasing the future of electric motorsport.
---
## 45. Drag Racing Electric Conversions
**Type**: Custom electric motors (aftermarket)
**Highlight**: In drag racing, some teams convert classic cars to electric, using high-voltage battery packs and motors that can exceed 1,000 hp. These conversions highlight electric motors’ instantaneous torque, producing rapid acceleration times that challenge traditional gas dragsters.
---
## 46. Mining Conveyor Belt Motors
**Type**: Industrial electric motors
**Highlight**: Gigantic conveyor systems used in large mines rely on powerful motors to move vast quantities of ore. Some installations exceed 5 MW per conveyor line, ensuring continuous, efficient material flow from the pit to processing facilities.
---
## 47. Oil and Gas Pipeline Compressors
**Type**: Electric-driven gas compressors
**Highlight**: Long-distance pipelines sometimes use electric motors (up to tens of thousands of horsepower) to drive compressors, pushing natural gas across continents. Electric drives can be more efficient and cleaner than gas turbine drives, reflecting a shift in pipeline technology.
---
## 48. FPSO Offloading Pumps
**Type**: Submersible electric pumps
**Highlight**: Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units use large electric submersible pumps to move oil from undersea reservoirs. These motors must handle high pressures and temperatures, delivering reliable multi-megawatt pumping power in harsh offshore conditions.
---
## 49. Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in F1
**Type**: Automotive hybrid motor-generator
**Highlight**: In Formula One, KERS units harvest braking energy and store it, then release it via an electric motor for extra horsepower. Though small (usually under 200 hp boost), they demonstrate cutting-edge motor-generator tech that can drastically impact lap times.
---
## 50. Elevator Hoisting Motors (Skyscrapers)
**Type**: High-torque electric motors
**Highlight**: Modern skyscrapers use advanced elevator motors, sometimes gearless traction machines that can lift thousands of kilograms at speeds over 10 m/s. Multi-megawatt setups may be required in the tallest buildings, providing both power and smooth ride quality.
---
### Final Note
This list merges **rocket engines**, **marine engines**, **jet engines**, **industrial electric motors**, and **vehicle powertrains** under the broad umbrella of “most powerful motors/engines.” Exact power rankings can vary based on definitions (thrust vs. horsepower vs. megawatts), **but each example** stands out for its **sheer output** and **engineering significance** in its respective field.
---
## 1. RD-170 Rocket Engine
**Type**: Rocket (Liquid-propellant)
**Highlight**: Developed in the Soviet era for the Energia and Zenit launch vehicles, the RD-170 is often cited as the most powerful single-chamber rocket engine by thrust at sea level (over 1.7 million lbf / ~7,600 kN). It uses a unique four-chamber design fed by a single turbopump, enabling immense lifting capability.
---
## 2. SpaceX Raptor
**Type**: Rocket (Liquid methane/liquid oxygen)
**Highlight**: The Raptor engine powers SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy booster. It produces around 500,000+ lbf of thrust (~2,200 kN) at sea level. Fueled by methane and oxygen, it employs a full-flow staged combustion cycle, making it highly efficient and reusable.
---
## 3. F-1 Rocket Engine (Saturn V)
**Type**: Rocket (RP-1/LOX)
**Highlight**: Used on NASA’s Saturn V during the Apollo program, each F-1 engine produced ~1.5 million lbf (~6,670 kN) of thrust at sea level. Five of these engines powered the Saturn V’s first stage, sending astronauts to the Moon. The F-1 remains one of the largest single-chamber liquid-fuel rocket engines ever flown.
---
## 4. NK-33 / AJ26 Rocket Engine
**Type**: Rocket (RP-1/LOX)
**Highlight**: Originally developed for the Soviet N-1 lunar rocket, the NK-33 (later adapted as AJ26 in the U.S.) is notable for its high thrust-to-weight ratio and efficiency. Although smaller than the RD-170 or F-1, it’s still among the most powerful and efficient kerosene-fueled engines.
---
## 5. RS-25 (Space Shuttle Main Engine / SLS)
**Type**: Rocket (LH2/LOX)
**Highlight**: Formerly the Space Shuttle Main Engine, the RS-25 now powers NASA’s Space Launch System. Known for its high efficiency (specific impulse), each engine produces about 418,000 lbf (~1,860 kN) at sea level, ramping higher in a vacuum. Its reusability was proven during the Space Shuttle era.
---
## 6. Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C
**Type**: Marine two-stroke diesel engine
**Highlight**: This leviathan diesel engine powers some of the world’s largest container ships. It can exceed 80,000 horsepower, with certain versions peaking around 100,000 hp. Standing multiple stories tall, it’s famed for its immense torque and fuel efficiency in ocean freight transport.
---
## 7. Wärtsilä 31
**Type**: Marine diesel engine
**Highlight**: Recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the most efficient 4-stroke diesel engines, the Wärtsilä 31 can surpass 13 MW (roughly 17,500 hp). It is modular and used in large vessels and power plants, combining high power output with relatively low fuel consumption.
---
## 8. MAN B&W 12S90ME-C
**Type**: Marine two-stroke diesel engine
**Highlight**: Part of MAN’s ultra-long-stroke engine series, this colossal engine can exceed 100,000 hp. Designed for massive cargo ships, it offers improved efficiency and lower emissions compared to older marine engines, reflecting industry trends toward cleaner maritime propulsion.
---
## 9. General Electric GE9X
**Type**: High-bypass turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Built for the Boeing 777X, the GE9X is among the most powerful commercial jet engines, generating about 134,000 lbf of thrust. With a huge 134-inch fan diameter and advanced materials like ceramic matrix composites, it pushes the limits of fuel efficiency in aviation.
---
## 10. General Electric GE90-115B
**Type**: High-bypass turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Powering the Boeing 777, the GE90-115B once held the record for highest thrust in a commercial jet engine (127,900 lbf during testing). Known for its massive fan diameter and carbon-fiber composite blades, it helped define the modern era of large twin-engine aircraft.
---
## 11. Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
**Type**: High-bypass turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Used on the Airbus A350, the Trent XWB delivers up to 97,000 lbf of thrust. It’s celebrated for its fuel efficiency, low emissions, and cutting-edge design. Rolls-Royce’s Trent family has a strong reputation for powering wide-body jets worldwide.
---
## 12. Pratt & Whitney PW1000G (Geared Turbofan)
**Type**: Turbofan (jet engine)
**Highlight**: Though not the highest thrust on this list (up to ~33,000 lbf), the PW1000G series is noteworthy for its geared turbofan design, improving efficiency and reducing noise. It powers aircraft like the Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 jets, showcasing advanced propulsion technology.
---
## 13. Siemens 15MW Offshore Wind Turbine Motor/Generator
**Type**: Electric motor-generator (wind turbine)
**Highlight**: Modern offshore wind turbines from Siemens Gamesa can reach 14–15 MW capacity per turbine. Their huge direct-drive generators function as both motors (for start-up) and generators (during operation). Each can power tens of thousands of homes with renewable electricity.
---
## 14. GE Haliade-X 14-18MW (Wind Turbine)
**Type**: Electric motor-generator (wind turbine)
**Highlight**: The Haliade-X platform can exceed 14 MW, with prototypes aiming for 18 MW. This technology harnesses enormous rotor diameters (over 220 meters) to capture more wind energy. In testing, it broke records for daily energy production from a single turbine.
---
## 15. Bath County Pumped Storage Station Motors
**Type**: Synchronous motor-generators (hydroelectric)
**Highlight**: Located in Virginia (USA), Bath County is often cited as the largest pumped storage power station, with a total capacity of ~3,000 MW. Its reversible pump-turbines can operate as powerful electric motors when pumping water uphill for energy storage.
---
## 16. Three Gorges Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest power station by installed capacity (22,500 MW). Each generator can exceed 700 MW, functioning essentially as massive electric motors in reverse (when using pumped-storage mode in nearby facilities). It’s a global symbol of hydroelectric engineering.
---
## 17. Grand Coulee Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: This dam on the Columbia River in Washington (USA) boasts an installed capacity of around 6,800 MW. Each generator can produce hundreds of megawatts, exemplifying large-scale hydroelectric engineering. The dam significantly contributes to the region’s power supply.
---
## 18. Hoover Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: An iconic engineering marvel on the Colorado River, Hoover Dam has a capacity over 2,000 MW. While not as large as newer dams, each generator still represents a massive electric machine that has reliably powered parts of the southwestern United States for decades.
---
## 19. Itaipu Dam Generators
**Type**: Hydro turbine-generators
**Highlight**: Straddling the border between Brazil and Paraguay, Itaipu had been the world’s largest power plant by annual generation for many years. Each of its 20 generator units can produce around 700 MW, jointly surpassing 14,000 MW total capacity.
---
## 20. EMALS (Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System)
**Type**: Linear electric motor
**Highlight**: Installed on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers like the USS Gerald R. Ford, EMALS uses linear induction motors to catapult aircraft off the deck. Each launcher can deliver tens of megawatts in a rapid burst, replacing older steam catapults with more precise control.
---
## 21. London Crossrail Tunnel Boring Machine Motors
**Type**: Electric TBM drive motors
**Highlight**: Large tunnel boring machines (TBMs) can use multiple high-power electric motors (totaling thousands of horsepower) to drive cutter heads through dense soil or rock. Projects like London’s Crossrail employed TBMs that exemplify the industrial might of modern electric drive systems.
---
## 22. Komatsu 930E Mining Truck
**Type**: Diesel-electric haul truck
**Highlight**: Large mining trucks like the Komatsu 930E have diesel engines driving electric wheel motors. Each wheel motor can exceed 1,000 hp, and the entire system can handle loads of over 300 tons. This diesel-electric arrangement offers better traction and efficiency in harsh mining environments.
---
## 23. Bucyrus-Erie 2570WS Dragline
**Type**: Electric-powered dragline excavator
**Highlight**: Giant dragline excavators use electric motors for hoisting and swinging. Some units exceed 20 MW of total drive power. They operate in surface mining, moving massive amounts of overburden with each scoop, showcasing heavy-industry scale electric power.
---
## 24. Caterpillar 797F Mining Truck
**Type**: Diesel-electric haul truck
**Highlight**: Similar to the Komatsu 930E, the Caterpillar 797F uses a high-output diesel engine that drives electric generators, powering motors on the wheels. With nearly 4,000 hp from the diesel engine and robust electric traction, it’s among the largest-capacity haul trucks worldwide.
---
## 25. ABB Azipod Propulsion System
**Type**: Electric marine propulsion motor
**Highlight**: Azipods are steerable propulsion units used on cruise ships, icebreakers, and other large vessels. Each pod can exceed 20 MW, providing high maneuverability and efficiency. ABB’s Azipod system revolutionized marine propulsion by eliminating the need for rudders and stern thrusters.
---
## 26. Queen Mary 2 Propulsion Motors
**Type**: Electric propulsion for an ocean liner
**Highlight**: The RMS Queen Mary 2 uses four pods (two fixed, two azimuthing) totaling around 86 MW. Powered by diesel and gas turbine generators, these electric motors drive the 1,132-foot ocean liner across the Atlantic with both speed and comfort.
---
## 27. Siemens SGT-8000H Series (Gas Turbine Generator)
**Type**: Gas turbine generator
**Highlight**: While technically a turbine, it includes a massive electric generator stage. The SGT-8000H can reach 400–450 MW in combined cycle. The generator portion is an extremely powerful electric machine, bridging the gap between mechanical rotation and grid power.
---
## 28. Alstom GT26 Gas Turbine Generator
**Type**: Gas turbine generator
**Highlight**: Similar to Siemens’ large turbines, the Alstom GT26 is used in combined-cycle power plants, producing hundreds of megawatts. The integrated generator must handle that output, effectively operating as a giant electric motor when spinning up or in special grid support modes.
---
## 29. Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line Ventilation Fans
**Type**: Industrial electric fans/motors
**Highlight**: Massive ventilation systems in large tunnels, such as the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line, use multi-megawatt motors to circulate fresh air. Though not as powerful as huge generators, these fans are critical for air quality and safety in long underwater road tunnels.
---
## 30. CERN Large Hadron Collider (Cryogenic Compressors)
**Type**: Industrial electric compressors
**Highlight**: The LHC uses high-power electric compressor motors to cool superconducting magnets to near absolute zero. Each motor can draw significant power, reflecting the enormous energy demands of particle accelerators and advanced research facilities.
---
## 31. NASA’s Wind Tunnel Drive Motors (Ames Research Center)
**Type**: Industrial fan motors
**Highlight**: Large wind tunnels require powerful fans to generate high-speed airflow for aerodynamic testing. Some NASA facilities have fan drive motors that exceed 50,000 hp, allowing researchers to simulate conditions for aircraft, rockets, and reentry vehicles.
---
## 32. Steel Mill Hot Strip Mill Motors
**Type**: Industrial rolling mill motors
**Highlight**: Rolling mills for steel production can have electric motors of tens of thousands of horsepower. These motors drive enormous rollers that flatten steel slabs at high temperatures. Precise control is essential to achieve desired thickness and material properties.
---
## 33. Paper Mill Drying Cylinder Motors
**Type**: Industrial process motors
**Highlight**: Large paper mills may use multi-megawatt motors to rotate drying cylinders and pulping equipment. High torque and speed control are needed to handle massive paper reels without tearing. Efficiency is key due to continuous operation demands.
---
## 34. Bombardier ALP-45DP Locomotive
**Type**: Dual-power locomotive (diesel-electric + electric)
**Highlight**: Designed for North American commuter rail, each locomotive has multiple traction motors. When on electrified lines, it draws from overhead power, and off-wire it uses an onboard diesel generator. The combined output can exceed 4,000 hp, ensuring flexibility across different track sections.
---
## 35. GE AC6000CW Locomotive
**Type**: Diesel-electric locomotive
**Highlight**: The AC6000CW was among the most powerful single-engined diesel-electric locomotives at ~6,000 hp. It uses AC traction motors on each axle, giving strong hauling capability for heavy freight. This design represents the upper limit of conventional diesel locomotive power.
---
## 36. Transrapid Maglev Propulsion (Shanghai Maglev)
**Type**: Linear motor (maglev train)
**Highlight**: The Shanghai Maglev uses powerful linear motors to lift and propel trains up to 430 km/h (267 mph). Stators embedded in the track and magnets on the train interact to generate motion without wheels. The system’s total power capacity is several megawatts per train.
---
## 37. Tesla Model S Plaid Electric Motors
**Type**: Automotive electric motors
**Highlight**: Tesla’s tri-motor setup in the Model S Plaid can produce over 1,000 hp combined, offering extreme acceleration for a production car. Using permanent magnet synchronous motors, Tesla focuses on efficiency, thermal management, and advanced power electronics.
---
## 38. Rimac Nevera Electric Motors
**Type**: Automotive electric motors (four-motor setup)
**Highlight**: The Rimac Nevera hypercar features four electric motors delivering ~1,914 hp total. Each wheel is independently driven for precise torque vectoring. It demonstrates how electric drivetrains can outperform traditional supercars in power and acceleration.
---
## 39. Bugatti Chiron W16 Engine
**Type**: Internal combustion (quad-turbocharged W16)
**Highlight**: Although not an electric motor, the Chiron’s 8.0-liter W16 engine can produce nearly 1,500 hp. It’s one of the most powerful production car engines ever. This engineering marvel highlights the peak of internal combustion technology for luxury hypercars.
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## 40. Koenigsegg Gemera TFG + Electric Hybrid
**Type**: Hybrid powertrain (3-cylinder ICE + electric motors)
**Highlight**: The Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG) 2.0-liter engine plus three electric motors deliver over 1,700 hp combined. It’s a demonstration of advanced hybrid engineering, where a small ICE can pair with powerful electric motors for extraordinary total output.
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## 41. Caterpillar Electric Propulsion in Large Yachts
**Type**: Diesel-electric marine system
**Highlight**: Some superyachts use diesel generators powering electric motors for quieter, more flexible propulsion. Systems can exceed multiple megawatts, enabling large vessels to travel with reduced vibration and improved fuel efficiency.
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## 42. Airbus E-Fan X (Experimental)
**Type**: Hybrid-electric aircraft motor
**Highlight**: Although the program was discontinued, the E-Fan X aimed to integrate a 2MW electric motor alongside conventional jet engines in a regional aircraft. It represented a significant step toward hybrid-electric flight, demonstrating the push for cleaner aviation technology.
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## 43. Hyperloop Pod Motors
**Type**: Linear electric motors
**Highlight**: Proposed Hyperloop concepts use low-pressure tubes and linear motors to accelerate pods to near-supersonic speeds. While still experimental, test tracks demonstrate high-power electromagnetic propulsion capable of pushing capsules hundreds of kilometers per hour.
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## 44. Formula E Racing Motors
**Type**: High-performance electric motors
**Highlight**: Formula E cars typically have motors delivering around 300 kW (~400 hp) in race trim, with higher peaks for qualifying. Though less powerful than some internal combustion race cars, Formula E technology focuses on efficiency, torque, and battery management, showcasing the future of electric motorsport.
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## 45. Drag Racing Electric Conversions
**Type**: Custom electric motors (aftermarket)
**Highlight**: In drag racing, some teams convert classic cars to electric, using high-voltage battery packs and motors that can exceed 1,000 hp. These conversions highlight electric motors’ instantaneous torque, producing rapid acceleration times that challenge traditional gas dragsters.
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## 46. Mining Conveyor Belt Motors
**Type**: Industrial electric motors
**Highlight**: Gigantic conveyor systems used in large mines rely on powerful motors to move vast quantities of ore. Some installations exceed 5 MW per conveyor line, ensuring continuous, efficient material flow from the pit to processing facilities.
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## 47. Oil and Gas Pipeline Compressors
**Type**: Electric-driven gas compressors
**Highlight**: Long-distance pipelines sometimes use electric motors (up to tens of thousands of horsepower) to drive compressors, pushing natural gas across continents. Electric drives can be more efficient and cleaner than gas turbine drives, reflecting a shift in pipeline technology.
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## 48. FPSO Offloading Pumps
**Type**: Submersible electric pumps
**Highlight**: Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units use large electric submersible pumps to move oil from undersea reservoirs. These motors must handle high pressures and temperatures, delivering reliable multi-megawatt pumping power in harsh offshore conditions.
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## 49. Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) in F1
**Type**: Automotive hybrid motor-generator
**Highlight**: In Formula One, KERS units harvest braking energy and store it, then release it via an electric motor for extra horsepower. Though small (usually under 200 hp boost), they demonstrate cutting-edge motor-generator tech that can drastically impact lap times.
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## 50. Elevator Hoisting Motors (Skyscrapers)
**Type**: High-torque electric motors
**Highlight**: Modern skyscrapers use advanced elevator motors, sometimes gearless traction machines that can lift thousands of kilograms at speeds over 10 m/s. Multi-megawatt setups may be required in the tallest buildings, providing both power and smooth ride quality.
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### Final Note
This list merges **rocket engines**, **marine engines**, **jet engines**, **industrial electric motors**, and **vehicle powertrains** under the broad umbrella of “most powerful motors/engines.” Exact power rankings can vary based on definitions (thrust vs. horsepower vs. megawatts), **but each example** stands out for its **sheer output** and **engineering significance** in its respective field.
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