Abstract: An electric motor is composed of two counter-rotating discs having intermeshing gearing and each carrying a plurality of permanent magnets radially arranged with the same poles at the periphery of both discs. A shield of magnetic material is provided at one side extending partly around the periphery of each of the discs and into substantially the bite of the discs. An electromagnetic is arranged with one pole adjacent the bite of the discs, with means to energize the electromagnet as each of the permanent magnets reaches the bite of the discs to create a field of such polarity as to make the magnetic poles of the adjacent permanent magnets move away from the bite of the discs in the direction away from the shield, utilizing the combined forces of the electromagnetic force and the repelling force of the permanent magnets to effect rotation.