An electric motor or generator having a stator with stator teeth for mounting electrical coils and a rotor, wherein the stator has a first surface that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor and is axially separated from the stator teeth and the rotor has a second surface that is formed in substantially the same axial position as the stator s first surface, wherein material is mounted on the first surface or the second surface that has a lower frictional coefficient than the first surface or second surface.