Renault: Electric motors with no rare earths

Article excerpt

Renault is developing electric motors that eliminate rare earth elements, a shift driven by supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions. Rare earths, primarily controlled by China, have become critical bottlenecks for EV manufacturers worldwide. The company's research focuses on alternative magnet materials and motor designs that reduce or eliminate dependency on these scarce resources while maintaining performance. This technological pivot addresses both economic concerns, rare earth prices have fluctuated wildly, and strategic independence for European automakers seeking to build complete EV supply chains without foreign leverage.