a rotor disposed at and rotatable about a central axis;

a stator disposed proximate to the rotor and defining a radial machine gap between the rotor and the stator; and

a cold plate disposed proximate to the rotor, the cold plate rotationally stationary relative to the central axis and spaced apart from the rotor to define a cold plate gap between the cold plate and the rotor, the cold plate including one or more coolant pathways therein such that thermal energy from the rotor is transferred to a flow of coolant circulated through the one or more coolant pathways;

wherein the cold plate gap is configured to vary during operation of the electric machine.