Oct 29 2010
Hybrid-electric vehicles and wind-power turbines using permanent magnet motors need large amounts of rare earth metals, dysprosium and neodymium. The recent Chinese ban on rare earth element exports could have a serious impact on the turbines and the hybrid vehicle industry, but for the Chorus Meshcon motor’s superior technology, eliminating rare earth metals.
This is an AC induction motor using electromagnetic harmonics to dramatically improve the size, reliability, weight and torque. It could produce five times more than the startup torque offered by a traditional motor with three phases and also much more than a permanent magnet motor.
China has almost 95% of the global rare earth supply. But even otherwise, the demand was much more than the supply. Stratford Global Intelligence Service has published a report indicating that a Toyota Prius hybrid electric car needs 13.5 kg of rare earths, while wind-power turbine needs about 350 kg of rare earths. The report also mentions that export of rare earths from China is going to be rarer during the next two to five years.
Instead of depending on the uncertain supply of rare earths manufacturers may try to find out other technologies independent of rare earths. The supply crisis has already happened once before, when permanent magnet motors depended on cobalt for magnetization. Zaire being the world’s biggest cobalt supplier caused the supply crisis, when it was invaded by Russia. After five years of search for an alternate to cobalt, automobile manufacturers finally found one in neodymium. According to a Chorus Motors Study, the permanent magnet users have become even more dependent on China for neodymium.
To break this reliance on rare earths, Chorus motors motor design and software produce ultra high torque in motors made from copper and iron. Chorus is eager to supply motor users and makers with Phase II, a supply security process, eliminating the need for special magnetic materials and also reducing costs.
Source: http://www.chorusmotors.com