Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022
Objective
The LowReMotors project will develop efficient motors with Nd-Lean magnets. Developed PM will content up to 10 % less REE. The consortium will combine a strong expertise in machine designing (MU) as well as a full expertise in magnet manufacturing (CEA, ML, Magneti). The project would deliver 4 motors and a complete process chart for new magnets. The industrial partner Valeo will lead the commercialisation and the go to market strategy.
The solution (technology)
The highest torque densities for motors in EV vehicles are obtained with Neodymium Nd magnet. But Nb is considered to be a critical material for Europe due to two reason.
• The Forecast of the demand predicts that it will exceed the production in the following years
• The production is out of Europe
This is why it is extremely interesting to look for alternatives to these magnets based on material which are not as critical as Nd. In this context, implementation of Cerium (Ce) substituted alloys could alleviate the need for Nd raw material up to 6-10 %. However, Ce-based magnets are known to be less performant than Nd magnets, therefore, it becomes mandatory to redesign electrical machine in order to optimize the implementation of these new magnets.
In LowReeMotors projects, two different electrical machines will be designed manufactured and tested based on Ce magnets that will substitute an existing equivalent Nd based motors.
The design will be developed focusing for mass production. In that way, the aim of the project is to develop two new motor products based on that topology.
Partnership
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, France
- Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
- Magneti Ljubljana d.d., Slovenia
- Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
- Valeo Powertrain Systems, France
- Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa, S. Coop (Lead Partner), Spain