A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors

The transportation sector is experiencing a profound shift, driven by the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates, the sustainability of the materials used in their production, particularly i...

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Main Authors: Francesco Lucchini, Riccardo Torchio, Nicola Bianchi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5861
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author Francesco Lucchini
Riccardo Torchio
Nicola Bianchi
author_facet Francesco Lucchini
Riccardo Torchio
Nicola Bianchi
author_sort Francesco Lucchini
collection DOAJ
description The transportation sector is experiencing a profound shift, driven by the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates, the sustainability of the materials used in their production, particularly in electric motors, is becoming a critical focus. This paper examines the sustainability of both traditional and emerging materials used in EV traction motors, with an emphasis on permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), which remain the dominant technology in the industry. Key challenges include the environmental and supply-chain concerns associated with rare earth elements (REEs) used in permanent magnets, as well as the sustainability of copper windings. Automakers are exploring alternatives such as REE-free permanent magnets, soft magnetic composites (SMCs) for reduced losses in the core, and carbon nanotube (CNT) windings for superior electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The topic of materials for EV traction motors is discussed in the literature; however, the focus on environmental, social, and economic sustainability is often lacking. This paper fills the gap by connecting the technological aspects with sustainability considerations, offering insights into the future configuration of EV motors.
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spelling doaj-art-dd3e1befe66f4072beb47e19559b04492025-08-20T02:50:33ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011723586110.3390/en17235861A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV MotorsFrancesco Lucchini0Riccardo Torchio1Nicola Bianchi2Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6/a, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6/a, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6/a, 35131 Padova, ItalyThe transportation sector is experiencing a profound shift, driven by the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates, the sustainability of the materials used in their production, particularly in electric motors, is becoming a critical focus. This paper examines the sustainability of both traditional and emerging materials used in EV traction motors, with an emphasis on permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), which remain the dominant technology in the industry. Key challenges include the environmental and supply-chain concerns associated with rare earth elements (REEs) used in permanent magnets, as well as the sustainability of copper windings. Automakers are exploring alternatives such as REE-free permanent magnets, soft magnetic composites (SMCs) for reduced losses in the core, and carbon nanotube (CNT) windings for superior electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The topic of materials for EV traction motors is discussed in the literature; however, the focus on environmental, social, and economic sustainability is often lacking. This paper fills the gap by connecting the technological aspects with sustainability considerations, offering insights into the future configuration of EV motors.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5861sustainabilityelectric vehicleselectric motorpermanent magnetsrare-earth elementswinding
spellingShingle Francesco Lucchini
Riccardo Torchio
Nicola Bianchi
A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors
Energies
sustainability
electric vehicles
electric motor
permanent magnets
rare-earth elements
winding
title A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors
title_full A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors
title_fullStr A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors
title_full_unstemmed A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors
title_short A Survey on the Sustainability of Traditional and Emerging Materials for Next-Generation EV Motors
title_sort survey on the sustainability of traditional and emerging materials for next generation ev motors
topic sustainability
electric vehicles
electric motor
permanent magnets
rare-earth elements
winding
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5861
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