How Will Rare Earths Affect Electrification? is the main question that the novel review of our colleagues of JSI and Kolektor try to answer in their novel review :
The Future of Permanent-Magnet-Based Electric Motors: How Will Rare Earths Affect Electrification? by B. Podmiljsak et al published in Material s 17 (2024) 848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040848
The review is focused on the relationship between permanent magnets and the electric motor. The authors review the road that leads to today’s state-of-the-art in electric motors and magnet design and give possible future roads to tackle the obstacles ahead and reach the goals of a fully electric transportation system. With new technologies now available, like additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence, electric motor designers have not yet exploited the possibilities the new freedom of design brings. New out-of-the-box designs will have to emerge to realize the full potential of the new technology. The work is also focused on the rare-earth crisis and how future price fluctuations can be avoided. Recycling plays a huge role in this, and developing a self-sustained circular economy will be critical.