An electric motor comprising: a shaft extending along a rotational axis and having a first end and a second end; a first plurality of laminations coupled to the shaft and stacked along the rotational axis, each of the first plurality of laminations having a first cross-section including a first number of lamination teeth ; a second plurality of laminations coupled to the shaft and stacked along the rotational axis immediately adjacent the first plurality of laminations, each of the second plurality of laminations having a second cross-section different from the first cross-section, the second cross-section having one less than the first number of lamination teeth; a third plurality of laminations coupled to the shaft and stacked along the rotational axis immediately adjacent the second plurality of laminations such that the second plurality of laminations are disposed between the first plurality of laminations and the third plurality of laminations, each of the third plurality of laminations having a third cross-section that is substantially the same as the first cross-section; a plurality of teeth defined by the cooperation of the first plurality of laminations, the second plurality of laminations, and the third plurality of laminations, each tooth cooperating with an adjacent tooth to define a winding slot ; a plurality of windings each coupled to at least one of the teeth and disposed in at least two of the winding slots; and an air flow path including an axial portion that extends along the rotational axis, and a radial portion that extends radially through a gap defined in the second plurality of laminations by the omission of one of the teeth, the air flow path operable to direct a flow of air through at least a portion of the plurality of windings. a shaft extending along a rotational axis and having a first end and a second end; a first plurality of laminations coupled to the shaft and stacked along the rotational axis, each of the first plurality of laminations having a first cross-section including a first number of lamination teeth ; a second plurality of laminations coupled to the shaft and stacked along the rotational axis immediately adjacent the first plurality of laminations, each of the second plurality of laminations having a second cross-section different from the first cross-section, the second cross-section having one less than the first number of lamination teeth; a third plurality of laminations coupled to the shaft and stacked along the rotational axis immediately adjacent the second plurality of laminations such that the second plurality of laminations are disposed between the first plurality of laminations and the third plurality of laminations, each of the third plurality of laminations having a third cross-section that is substantially the same as the first cross-section; a plurality of teeth defined by the cooperation of the first plurality of laminations, the second plurality of laminations, and the third plurality of laminations, each tooth cooperating with an adjacent tooth to define a winding slot ; a plurality of windings each coupled to at least one of the teeth and disposed in at least two of the winding slots; and an air flow path including an axial portion that extends along the rotational axis, and a radial portion that extends radially through a gap defined in the second plurality of laminations by the omission of one of the teeth, the air flow path operable to direct a flow of air through at least a portion of the plurality of windings. <EOS>