M. Hays, S. Carr
Orbis Electric,
United States
Keywords: alternative magnetic materials axial flux permanent magnet motors
Summary:
To this point, high torque axial flux motors have been reliant upon neodymium magnets that incur environmental liabilities and pricing variables that impede adoption of this important technology on a broader scale and therefore negate the benefits that would otherwise result in lighter and more efficient operating systems including battery electric and hybrid automobiles, commercial vehicles, aircraft and drones, and more efficient generators in renewable energy applications. One example of the benefits of the axial flux motor when deployed in battery electric and hybrid vehicles is not only an efficiency in the powertrain that nears 97% but improvements in per-charge range that can be as high as 25% derived from the light-weighting that occurs by virtue of the removal of unnecessary driveline components including the differential, half-shafts and other driveline components. In the case of renewable energy systems such as wind turbines, the volume of neodymium used in these technologies incurs enormous risks economically and environmentally due to reliance on non-US supply chains. Therefore a practical alternative to neodymium magnets is vital for cost management and a more resilient supply chain. This presentation will explore those alternatives and address ways to replace neodymium without sacrificing key performance metrics and particularly those metrics that are applicable to axial flux permanent magnet motors.