An axial flux switched reluctance motor and/or generator, and controls are provided. It includes a stator, which includes a front surface and a rear surface, and sidewalls that extend from the front surface to the rear surface. The stator includes salient stator poles positioned on the front surface. Each one of the salient stator poles including: a bobbin protruding out from the front surface in a direction along an axis of the bobbin that is perpendicular to the front surface; the bobbin comprising a bobbin front surface that is substantially parallel to the front surface of the stator; and a coil of electrically insulated wire wound around the bobbin. A rotor includes a front rotor surface and an opposite facing rear rotor surface; and further includes a plurality of rotor poles. The rotor is affixed to a shaft and rotates about an axis of rotation that is aligned with the shaft.