A power operating system for a vehicle liftgate includes an actuator having a gas strut and a linear electric motor mounted thereto along a common axis. By activating the linear electric motor, a slidable rotor moves along the linear stator to drive the gas spring between an extended position and a retracted position to provide remote operation of the liftgate. When power is unavailable to the linear electric motor, the liftgate may still be manually opened and closed in the conventional manner without the necessity of an override.