Proterial (previously Hitachi Metals), a manufacturer of iron and metals, has found that optimizing the design of a motor using its patented high-performance ferrite magnet NMF-15 can achieve the same output as an EV drive motor that uses neodymium magnets.

Proterial has validated maximum power of 102 kW and maximum rotation speed of 15,000 rpm, compared to 110 kW and 10,000 rpm for a neodymium magnet.

The output of neodymium magnets for EV drive motors and generators is predicted to rise as EV production increases, but neodymium magnets employ neodymium, a light rare earth, plus dysprosium and terbium, heavy rare earths that are in short supply.

Source: Proterial via Green Car Congress