University in Tokyo comes up with non-rare earth metal electric motor [w/video]
While electric cars save the environment, they cost a lot because their motors make use of rare metals. Recently, a research team led by Nobukazu Hoshi of a university in Tokyo specializing in the sciences created an electric motor that doesn’t depend on any rare metals for it to run. Instead of using rare Earth elements, the Japanese team has found a way to power electric motors with cheaper and easier-to-find materials.
During the Techno-Frontier 2011, Nobukazu’s team showcased their motor invention also with the electric car they also built.
According to Nobukazu’s statement, the university is currently building an electric vehicle that can run without the using rare Earth elements. He said that the electric car they’re building is as big as the 2nd gen Prius and runs on with a motor that is called the Switched Reluctance type The electric car has 50kW of output power of over95% efficiency.
The so-called Switched Reluctance makes use of the difference that exist in the magnetic fields to power the vehicle mechanically. Nobukazu’s team said that the electric car is resistant to heat and mechanical shocks as well. While that sounds might potential, the downside here is that it doesn’t have much torque power compared to the traditional electric vehicles. But hey, this one is definitely cheaper because it makes use of cheaper materials.
This is just the first unveiling. Further modifications and test runs have to be made to improve and asses this electric motor’s performance and practicality.
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