Imagine a pancake-shaped motor that is much thinner and more powerful than the round ones currently in most electric cars. This project finds a way to make these high-performance motors cheaper to build and easier to recycle. It's like redesigning a complex machine so it uses fewer rare materials and can be mass-produced on a standard assembly line.
Current electric vehicle motors are either too expensive to mass-produce (axial flux) or rely too heavily on risky, non-recyclable critical raw materials (radial flux). This creates a barrier to making affordable, sustainable EVs for the general public.
A validated methodology for designing low-cost axial flux motors and their production systems, including TRL5 prototypes and Digital Twins for optimal control.
If you are a car manufacturer dealing with high production costs for the 50kW-120kW power range — this project developed a modular axial flux motor design that reduces manufacturing costs and environmental impact. This allows you to keep vehicles accessible to a wider range of customers.
If you are a powertrain supplier dealing with the scarcity and risk of rare earth magnets — this project developed a methodology to minimize Critical Raw Materials (CRM) usage. This secures your supply chain while improving torque and power density.
If you are a recycling firm dealing with difficult-to-dismantle electric motors — this project developed a design focused on high recyclability and life cycle assessment. This makes the recovery of critical raw materials more efficient and profitable.
It designs the motor and the manufacturing process flow simultaneously to ensure the product is optimized for mass production from the start. Based on available project data, this targets the core automotive market of 50kW-120kW.
Yes, the project specifically focuses on a methodology to design the production system for the automotive core market to move axial flux machines from a niche to a mass-market product.
Based on available project data, the project provides a validated design methodology and digital twins, but specific licensing terms are not listed.
The project incorporates strategies to minimize the use of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) throughout the entire life cycle, from extraction to recycling.
The project period runs from 2023-02-01 to 2027-01-31, suggesting that final validated methodologies and prototypes will be ready by early 2027.
The consortium is heavily industry-weighted with a 54% ratio, comprising 7 industrial partners and 5 universities across 6 European countries. This structure, which includes the entire value chain from raw material suppliers to car manufacturers and recyclers, suggests a strong focus on commercial viability and industrial application rather than pure academic research.
Contact Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers in France
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