Ricardo presents rare earth free electric motor
The Alumotor was developed by a consortium led by Ricardo and funded by Innovate UK. As mentioned above, it does not use any rare earth metals or critical raw materials, such as cobalt. Instead, it uses hairpin windings made from aluminium.
According to the company, the new synchronous reluctance motor is oil-cooled and has a power output of 214 kW. The maximum efficiency is said to be greater than 92 per cent, “making it suitable for light commercial vehicles and off-highway applications with full scalability to suit other applications,” according to Ricardo.
Ricardo presented the motor at the Materials and Manufacturing Showcase 2025 in London, emphasising the importance of a supply chain free of critical raw materials.
“We are excited to be at the forefront of testing aluminium hairpin windings, and are achieving strong performance data that will support future go-to-market activities,” Dragica Kostic-Perovic, Ricardo’s Chief Engineer responsible for the Alumotor project. “This is a significant development, showing true innovation, and supports our reputation as experts in the design and development of future sustainable technologies.”
Ricardo also focuses on other sustainable technologies. In 2023, it took the lead in the HYdrogen-powered Shipping consortium (sHYpS), with the goal of accelerating the adoption of hydrogen as a renewable fuel in the maritime industry.
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