Motor Designs without Critical Materials for Electric Drive Vehicles

b. Motor Designs without Critical Materials for Electric Drive Vehicles In support of DOE's Critical Minerals Initiative, this subtopic seeks to address the challenges of lower cost motors with higher power density for vehicle traction while reducing critical materials[3] use. Currently, critical materials [1] like neodymium and dysprosium are vital to manufacturing magnets used in most electric motors powering electric vehicles on the road today. Demand for these resources continues to grow, and in response to Executive Order 13817, A Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals[2], DOE is leading the way in developing alternative technologies that do not rely on these critical materials. In addition, focused exploratory research for electric motors is needed to meet the cost and size targets described in the U.S. DRIVE partnership Electrical and Electronics Technical Team (EETT) Roadmap.[3] To achieve these goals, VTO and its partners are already examining many research avenues, including: lower-cost permanent magnets and magnetic materials; reduced rare-earth magnet motors; non-permanent magnet motor designs; and improving electric motor thermal management, performance and reliability. Applications to this subtopic should describe technical approaches for electric motor designs that aim to meet EETT targets while significantly reducing critical materials content. These motor designs should differ significantly from current or previous DOE research projects, and performance claims or benefits need to be supported by sufficient mathematical modeling and data analysis. Applicants should show a relationship to, and demonstrate and understanding of, automotive application requirements and environments. Projects should aim to design and simulate a > 80 kW peak capable motor in Phase I, with plans to prototype at least one motor in Phase II. Questions Contact: Steven Boyd, steven.boyd@ee.doe.gov