Rare Earths: more and more strategic for the energy sector

The increasing electrification of the car has shifted the focus on the geopolitics of the sources of supply of materials related to the development of new automotive technologies. From the well-known scenario, due to oil is now being extended to examine one related to the "Rare Earth" that is, those chemical elements that are grouped in the Periodic Table, under this name.

We are talking about for example the "Neodymium" and "Dysprosium" used in the Nissan Leaf, GM Volt mella, in 'hybrid Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, as well as in mobile phones and rechargeable batteries.

China controls about 90% of the global market of "Rare Earth". Last month, the same China has cut exports in the first half of 2011 by 35% and this reduction has followed that of the 72% already carried out in the second half of 2010. Decisions that have doubled the prices of some of some of these materials.

Toyota has already started by the time its countermeasures. Is developing a new electric motor, for both hybrid-electric vehicles, which will not need Rare Earths.

Toyota engineers are working on an electric induction motor.

An engine is already available in the house Toyota but for the moment it seems that still present some difficulties of control. In addition to Toyota GM also said it is working on the development of an induction motor, as well as Continental (Germany), a world leader in automotive area that said they had already developed an electric motor without rare earths and that will be adopted within the year from a not well specified electric car.

And 'realistic to assume that it is the revival of old technological solutions to which you are trying to eliminate the problems.

While this induction electric motor allows to avoid the use of rare earth, on the other hand allows to adopt solutions which can significantly lower the costs, a goal latter dramatically priority given that, even in the most favorable scenario, the supply of rare earth magnets appears set to remain very expensive.

Today the auto industry accounts for 40% of the worldwide availability of Neodymium and Toyota is not difficult to identify as the most user Whereas, although never confirmed, it seems every Prius boarding about a pound.

The technology is facing a new challenge and the car, once again, is called to be a leader.

 

14/01/2011

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Translated via software

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Source:

Italian version of ReteIngegneri.it

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