Abstract: An axial air gap motor comprising a housing having a first endplate and an opposed second endplate, a stator assembly mounted within the housing, and a rotor assembly rotatable mounted within the housing. The rotor assembly includes an annular disc shaped armature, wherein the armature includes a front facing surface and a rear facing surface. Additionally, the stator assembly includes a first magnetic permeable flux return plate secured to the first endplate and a magnet assembly secured to the first flux return plate. The magnet assembly is positioned between the first flux return plate and the front facing surface of said armature for directing a magnetic field to said armature in a direction normal to a plane of said armature. The stator further including a magnetic permeable second flux return plate secured to the second endplate.