Electric motor with asymmetrical permanent magnet layout and inter-polar bridge inbetween magnets

An electric motor includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a rotor core and a plurality of permanent magnets each disposed in one of the plurality of rotor cavities. The rotor core includes a plurality of polar pieces arranged annularly about the rotational axis. The plurality of permanent magnets includes a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet. The first permanent magnet is disposed inside the first rotor cavity. The second permanent magnet is disposed in the second rotor cavity. The rotor core includes an intra-polar bridge in each of the plurality of polar pieces. The first permanent magnet has a first surface area. The second permanent magnet has a second surface area. The second surface area is greater than the first surface area.