Engineering consulting company Ricardo has designed, developed and tested a prototype electric propulsion module, Alumotor, a synchronous reluctance motor that does not contain critical raw materials such as rare earths or cobalt.

Alumotor was delivered within Innovate UK’s funded consortium, led by Ricardo, which aims to address issues related to the environmental impact of materials for electric motors. 

The motor uses aluminum hairpin windings, and the machine is oil-cooled to generate a power output of 214 kW and maximum efficiency greater than 92%, making it suitable for light commercial vehicles and off-highway applications. Full scalability also makes it suitable for other applications.

Dr Dragica Kostic-Perovic, Ricardo Chief Engineer responsible for the Alumotor project, said: “We are excited to be at the forefront of testing aluminum hairpin windings, and are achieving strong performance data that will support future go-to-market activities.”

Source: Ricardo