Ricardo, a world consulting agency specializing in technique, environmental issues, and engineering, has efficiently designed and examined a prototype electrical propulsion module known as Alumotor. This modern synchronous reluctance motor is notable for being free from uncommon earth metals.
Developed underneath a consortium funded by Innovate UK and led by Ricardo, Alumotor goals to advertise sustainable mobility by addressing the environmental challenges posed by conventional electrical motor supplies.
Alumotor presents an economical, sturdy, and sustainable various to traditional copper-wound everlasting magnet machines. Its synchronous reluctance design eliminates the necessity for uncommon earth metals and significant supplies like cobalt. As an alternative, it makes use of aluminum hairpin windings and options oil cooling, enabling it to ship an influence output of 214 kW with a powerful effectivity exceeding 92%. This makes it significantly appropriate for gentle industrial autos and off-highway purposes, whereas additionally being absolutely scalable for a wide range of makes use of.
Dr. Dragica Kostic-Perovic, Chief Engineer at Ricardo and the chief of the Alumotor venture, expressed pleasure concerning the developments in testing aluminum hairpin windings, highlighting the robust efficiency knowledge that can support future market initiatives. She emphasised that this growth is a testomony to true innovation and reinforces Ricardo’s standing as a frontrunner within the creation of future sustainable applied sciences.
Considerations surrounding the usage of crucial uncooked supplies have been rising, significantly relating to their environmental and social implications. Specialists at Ricardo are devoted to minimizing these impacts all through the whole worth chain, specializing in coverage, technique, product design, and round economic system initiatives.
The Alumotor venture was featured on the Supplies and Manufacturing Showcase 2025 in London, hosted by UKRI, the place the staff mentioned points of the UK sustainable provide chain and introduced the prototype.
Revealed on April 4, 2025, by Blagojce Krivevski.
