Electric motors, unlike combustion engines, are often specified with separate peak and continuous (or nominal) power ratings. That's because running them flat-out for long periods can generate enough heat to damage components, so manufacturers build in thermal limiting systems that reduce power output down to the continuous level when they start overheating. The difference between the peak and continuous figures reflects the performance of the motor cooling system.

Here are a couple of examples. At the cheaper end of the scale would be something like the e-motor in the Ox Patagonia electric motorcycle. Peaking at 11 kW, it's so badly cooled that it can only handle a continuous 6 kW – 55 percent of the peak power. Energica's fancy new EMCE motor, on the other hand, peaks at 126 kW, but can handle a continuous 110 kW (87 percent of the peak) thanks to a very effective cooling system.