It is basically maintenance-free.
Honda first announced the use of a hot-deformed neodymium magnetic that doesn’t contain rare earth metals almost five years ago. This was a significant breakthrough in the industry, as it meant Honda could make electric motors that didn’t contain heavy rare earth metals like dysprosium or terbium. Mahle is taking things to the next level.
German parts supplier Automotive Parts has just unveiled its first ever magnet-free electric engine. The motor is currently in its final stages of development. It doesn’t require rare Earth elements. Mahle claims that the technology breakthrough “makes production more eco-friendly” and also offers “advantages in cost and resource security.”
“With our new electric engine, we’re living up our responsibility as sustainably operating company,” Michael Frick Chairman of Mahle comments, “Dispensing using magnets and thus the use of rare Earth elements offers great potential both from a geopolitical standpoint but also in regard to the responsible usage of nature and resources.”
The new electric motor from Mahle is not only more eco-friendly, but also highly efficient. According to Mahle, the motor is magnet-free and achieves an efficiency of approximately 95 percent in almost all operating conditions. This is a level previously only achieved by Formula E racing cars.
Mahle also claims “high degree of durability” due to contactless transmissions of electric currents between stationary and rotating parts of the motor. This basically means that the electric motor can be used for many applications and is maintenance-free.
Martin Berger, Mahle’s VP of corporate, says that the magnet-free motor is a significant breakthrough. It offers many advantages that have never been combined in a product like this. We can now offer our customers an outstanding product at a low price with a high efficiency.