A small startup based in Bengaluru, India has secured its fifth Indian patent for an electric motor that operates without any rare-earth magnets, relying instead on software and power electronics to generate its magnetic field. The company, a roughly $5 million operation, is tackling a problem that has challenged every major automaker, including Tesla and GM, for years.

Rare-earth magnets, used in most current EV motors, depend on materials that are expensive, environmentally costly to mine, and concentrated in supply chains dominated by China. A workable rare-earth-free motor could reduce automakers’ exposure to that supply chain and potentially lower production costs, though scaling a small startup’s patented approach to mass-market automotive production is a substantial next step.

The development adds to a wider push across the EV industry to reduce dependence on rare-earth materials, with several larger automakers and suppliers separately pursuing their own alternative motor designs. Whether this particular approach can move from patent to production remains to be seen, but it reflects growing urgency around the issue industry-wide.

EV News

ecars24