Greener permanent magnets without or with less critical raw materials

Purpose and goal

The purpose of this project is to reduce the use of rare earth elements by developing and demonstrating new magnets without or with less rare earth elements. Furthermore, both the new magnets and motors using the magnets must be designed so that the magnets can be recycled. The main goals are to develop simulation models for the newly developed magnets and to design and test a motor for electromobility using the new magnets, thus demonstrating that they can substitute conventional rare earth element based magnets.

Expected effects and result

The long-term ambition of this project is to reduce the import of rare earth elements into the EU. This will be done by developing alternative magnets and motors designed for these magnets, as well as simulation methods for the new magnets and motors. The project will lead to collaboration with European partners and knowledge exchange within Europe. Project results will be disseminated through scientific publications and presentations at conferences.

Planned approach and implementation

This project is carried out in collaboration with material scientists, who will develop the novel magnets. The project will mainly be carried out through the following parts; 1. Development of new methods to model the novel magnets in a computationally efficient way for motor simulations. 2. Using the new simulation models to design electric car motors using the novel magnets, which must also be designed for recycling of the magnets. 3. Build, test and evaluate the new motor using the novel magnets.