Imagine an electric car motor that is cheaper to build and easier to recycle. Instead of relying on expensive and hard-to-get rare minerals from a single global source, this design uses recycled materials and alternative magnets. It's like upgrading a car's heart to be more powerful while using fewer precious resources.
EV manufacturers are struggling with high costs and supply chain vulnerabilities due to the reliance on rare earth elements (REE) primarily sourced from China.
A high-power density motor design using SiC inverters and a circular recovery process for magnets from end-of-life rotors.
If you are a car manufacturer dealing with high production costs for mass-market EVs — this project developed a motor that is 28% cheaper and reduces rare earth element content by 60%. This allows for more competitive pricing in the A and B vehicle segments.
If you are a supplier dealing with strict power density requirements — this project developed a motor achieving >7 KW/kg and 42kW/l power density. It integrates SiC inverters to reduce energy losses by 20%.
If you are a recycling firm dealing with the difficulty of extracting magnets from old rotors — this project developed a cost-effective recovery process with an >80% REE recyclability rate. This enables a closed-loop supply of magnets for second-generation motors.
The project aims for a solution that is 28% cheaper than current reference automotive motors.
Yes, the project specifically targets mass-produced cars and vans, focusing on A+B and C+D vehicle segments.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the project involves 4 industrial partners including GKN and Magneti Marelli to ensure market orientation.
It reduces primary rare earth CRM usage by over 60% and introduces a Ce-based magnet alternative to reduce dependency on Chinese imports.
The project period runs from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2026.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, featuring a 44% industry ratio with 4 industrial partners (including GKN and MagnetI) and 4 universities. This mix ensures that the high-level research on magnet topology is immediately vetted against the practical needs of mass-market automotive production.
Contact Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa in Spain
Contact us to connect with the HEFT consortium for licensing discussions.
