New Magnetic Motor Uses Less Rare Earth and Could Increase Distance of EVs

A row of Tesla Model S sedans are seen outside the company’s headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif., on April 30, 2015. Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters

Engineers from Australia’s University of New South Wales (UNSW) have developed a magnetically-driven motor that not only requires less rare earth mineral to develop, but could potentially increase the distance electric vehicles (EVs) can cover.

Inspired by the shape of the longest railroad bridge in South Korea—the Gyopo rail bridge—the prototype Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM) has achieved record speeds of 100,000 revolutions per minute, doubling the existing high-speed record of laminated IPMSMs.