The thing is, in practical applications like electric cars, torque density isn’t the foremost concern.

Torque is linearily proportional to the current, while the ohmic losses are proportional to the square of current, so halving the torque and doubling the speed of the motor reduces the ohmic losses by 75%. Likewise, halving the speed and doubling the torque increases losses by 300%.

The amount of copper and magnetic materials are also reduced when the motor is built to run faster, so it becomes smaller and lighter – if the speed of the motor isn’t constrained, then the power density of the motor becomes inversely proportional with its torque density – and power can always be transformed into torque via gears.

F=ma is ok, but with all the trendy electronic health/wellness stuff people seem to be more interested in W=mg. :)

Yup, there’s a third one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton's_laws_of_motion Possibly you’re forgetting number two, F=ma. Not as fun as one and three. I think of it sometimes when walking across an intersection and I suspect the stopped car (massive object) is about to accelerate. In that case, even at a low acceleration F can at least roll you onto the windshield.

“To produce more torque and transition to a competitive position, an electrostatic machine must possess a large rotor-stator surface area immersed in a dielectric medium to store electric charge under high potential. Our group uses dielectric liquids, 3D printed structures with high surface area, and medium voltage power electronics to develop high torque electrostatic machines for low speed direct drive applications.”

Ladies and gentlemen. Start your 3D printers!

Wait! Wait! What? There’s a third one? :-D

Seriously there’s one obvious thing about electrostatic motors especially relevant for their time. Ease of design and construction.