A rotary electric motor in which rotor and stator members are each configured as annular rings, concentric with respect to each other, about an axis of rotation. Either of the rotor or stator members is formed of groups of electromagnet poles, the groups substantially equidistantly distributed along the angular extent of the annular ring, each of the groups comprising magnetic material magnetically isolated and separated from the other groups. The other member comprises a plurality of permanent magnet poles substantially equidistantly distributed with alternating magnetic polarity along the angular extent of the radial air gap formed between the members, the permanent magnet poles having a common magnetic return path.