Electrical Steel development for automotive electric motors (E-STATE)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Surahammars Bruks AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 908 000 |
| Project duration | April 2021 - March 2025 |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for Metallic material |
| Call | Metallic materials for the electrified society |
Important results from the project
The project´s goal was to develop a new electrical steel for electric vehicles that improves the efficiency of the motor by 1%. Increased knowledge has been gained on factors influencing the properties of the material and the motor. A new steel with lower magnetization losses and higher strength was developed. Prototype motors with the new steel are smaller and have better efficiency compared to motors with a reference material. The 1% target should be achievable with a modified motor design.
Expected long term effects
The increased understanding of the relations between different parameters in the whole value chain material to e-motor will lead to better conditions for developing optimal products in the future. Improved methods for laboratory scale development are important for the future new and better electrical steel for electric vehicles. The results show that a thinner steel can potentially provide even better efficiency for electric motors in vehicles and thus longer range and/or reduced costs.
Approach and implementation
Calculations showed which steel properties that are most important for the electric motor efficiency. Laboratory materials were produced and tested as a basis for a new steel grade which was produced on an industrial scale. This new steel was characterized and used in prototype motors that were tested. The production of steel and prototypes both suffered from various problems, which caused significant delays. However, most of the planned investigations could be carried out.