A claw pole synchronous machine comprising: a housing; a rotor being rotatable relative to the housing and having a plurality of first claw poles circumferentially alternating with a plurality of second claw poles, the plurality of first claw poles being axially overlapping with the plurality of second claw poles; wherein the rotor comprises a first ferromagnetic disk, the first plurality of claw poles extending axially from a radially outer edge of the first ferromagnetic disk, and a second ferromagnetic disk, coaxial with the first ferromagnetic disk, the second plurality of claw poles extending from a radially outer edge of the second ferromagnetic disk; wherein the rotor is devoid of a coil and devoid of permanent magnets; at least two DC excitation coils fixed relative to said housing and configured to provide a magnetic field to the rotor, a first coil of the at least two DC excitation coils magnetizing the first claw poles and a second coil of the at least two DC excitation coils magnetizing the second claw poles, wherein the first and second DC excitation coils are provided with DC current having opposite polarities; and a stator, comprising a laminated or sintered powder core and a multi-phase or single phase winding, fixed to the housing being in operable communication with the rotor, wherein the DC excitation coils are ring-shaped and are disposed at each axial end of the stator; and wherein the at least two DC excitation coils and the stator are disposed within, and fixed relative to, the housing, the housing being a ferromagnetic housing; and wherein: the ferromagnetic housing includes a radially outward cylindrical yoke connecting two axially opposite ferromagnetic end bells; wherein each of the ferromagnetic end bells further includes a ferromagnetic plate at a radially inward edge of the end bell; and further wherein the ferromagnetic plates extend axially toward the opposite ferromagnetic end bell and further define an excitation flux path (250, 252), each excitation flux path (250, 252) surrounding, and interfacing with, a corresponding one of the at least two DC excitation coils allowing the DC excitation coil to magnetize a corresponding rotor disk. a housing; a rotor being rotatable relative to the housing and having a plurality of first claw poles circumferentially alternating with a plurality of second claw poles, the plurality of first claw poles being axially overlapping with the plurality of second claw poles; wherein the rotor comprises a first ferromagnetic disk, the first plurality of claw poles extending axially from a radially outer edge of the first ferromagnetic disk, and a second ferromagnetic disk, coaxial with the first ferromagnetic disk, the second plurality of claw poles extending from a radially outer edge of the second ferromagnetic disk; wherein the rotor is devoid of a coil and devoid of permanent magnets; at least two DC excitation coils fixed relative to said housing and configured to provide a magnetic field to the rotor, a first coil of the at least two DC excitation coils magnetizing the first claw poles and a second coil of the at least two DC excitation coils magnetizing the second claw poles, wherein the first and second DC excitation coils are provided with DC current having opposite polarities; and a stator, comprising a laminated or sintered powder core and a multi-phase or single phase winding, fixed to the housing being in operable communication with the rotor, wherein the DC excitation coils are ring-shaped and are disposed at each axial end of the stator; and wherein the at least two DC excitation coils and the stator are disposed within, and fixed relative to, the housing, the housing being a ferromagnetic housing; and wherein: the ferromagnetic housing includes a radially outward cylindrical yoke connecting two axially opposite ferromagnetic end bells; wherein each of the ferromagnetic end bells further includes a ferromagnetic plate at a radially inward edge of the end bell; and further wherein the ferromagnetic plates extend axially toward the opposite ferromagnetic end bell and further define an excitation flux path (250, 252), each excitation flux path (250, 252) surrounding, and interfacing with, a corresponding one of the at least two DC excitation coils allowing the DC excitation coil to magnetize a corresponding rotor disk. the ferromagnetic housing includes a radially outward cylindrical yoke connecting two axially opposite ferromagnetic end bells; wherein each of the ferromagnetic end bells further includes a ferromagnetic plate at a radially inward edge of the end bell; and further wherein the ferromagnetic plates extend axially toward the opposite ferromagnetic end bell and further define an excitation flux path (250, 252), each excitation flux path (250, 252) surrounding, and interfacing with, a corresponding one of the at least two DC excitation coils allowing the DC excitation coil to magnetize a corresponding rotor disk.