New EV motor said to cut need for rare-earth neodymium magnets

Technology from Japan's Proterial would reduce dependence on China for mineral

20230723N Special EV magnet

Proterial says using a special arrangement of an iron oxide magnet allows a neodymium magnet to be replaced in an EV motor. (Photo courtesy of Proterial)

SHUHEI OCHIAI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japanese metal maker Proterial has developed a prototype motor for electric vehicles that uses magnets that do not contain the rare-earth metal neodymium.

Neodymium magnets are the most common type currently employed in EV motors, but since the main source of the rare earth is China, stable procurement has been an issue.

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