An electric machine, includes a rotor, a first radial fan wheel and a second radial fan wheel arranged on opposite sides of the rotor in axial direction, a first cooling air chamber and a second cooling air chamber; a first cooling air path extending in axial direction up to a side of the second radial fan wheel which faces away from the first radial fan wheel and from there leading into the second cooling air chamber, a second cooling air path extending in axial direction up to a side of the first radial fan wheel which faces away from the second radial fan wheel and from there leading into the first cooling air chamber, wherein the first radial fan wheel moves cooling air from the first cooling air chamber along the at least one first cooling air path and the second radial fan wheel moves cooling air from the second cooling air chamber along the at least one second cooling air path.