New advances in electric motors

New advances in electric motor development could lead to more efficient electric vehicles being developed. Japan’s Tohoku University has been working on switched reluctance motors that feature an axial gap design and do not require permanent magnets. These can deliver the same torque as motors featuring permanent magnets however, a key point as the cost of the rare earths needed in permanent magnets has increased. Meanwhile Nissan said that sales of its Leaf model are now growing, with 46,000 having been bo
December 17, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
New advances in electric motor development could lead to more efficient electric vehicles being developed. Japan’s Tohoku University has been working on switched reluctance motors that feature an axial gap design and do not require permanent magnets. These can deliver the same torque as motors featuring permanent magnets however, a key point as the cost of the rare earths needed in permanent magnets has increased. Meanwhile 2454 Nissan said that sales of its Leaf model are now growing, with 46,000 having been bought. Of these, 25,000 have been sold in Japan, 18,000 in the USA and 7,000 in Europe. Nissan and its partner 2453 Renault plan to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2016 and have established a facility in the US able to produce 350,000 lithium-ion battery packs/year.

In addition, 3055 Mitsubishi is working on plans to increase the number of electric charging points in Japan. Some 400 new 200V charging points will be added, in addition to the 3,192 standard charging stations and 1,380 fast-charging points in the country.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • China plans to boost use of electric vehicles
    December 6, 2012
    The authorities in China are keen for increased use of electric vehicles as part of a plan to reduce pollution in major cities, and as part of a wider programme aimed at lowering the environmental impact from mobility. Fuel costs are comparatively high in China, further encouraging drivers to switch to electric vehicles, at least for urban trips. And electric-assist bicycles as well as scooters are already popular in Chinese cities, highlighting the strong potential market for electric cars in the country.
    Read More
  • Questions are being asked about the success of electric cars
    June 21, 2012
    Electric car sales in many countries remain sluggish. In the US, Chevrolet’s Volt model sold 7.671 in 2011 while sales of Nissan’s Leaf model reached 9.674. Meanwhile sales of electric cars in the UK for example have topped around 2,100 units since 2006. Major barriers to public acceptance of pure electric cars remain the high prices, due in part to the costs of the batteries. Costing up to US$15,000, a lithium ion battery pack for a car is not a cheap option.
    Read More
  • A variety of measures will increase demand for electric vehicles
    April 2, 2013
    A wide array of measures is being used around the world to encourage customers to buy electric vehicles. Customers are still proving reluctant in many markets to buy electric vehicles, with range concerns and purchase costs amongst the key. Nissan reports that sales of its sophisticated Leaf model (developed jointly with its partner Renault) have been sluggish in Europe, despite glowing reviews in various motoring magazines. In the UK one leading thinktank, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), h
    Read More
  • Nissan giving away 400 quick chargers
    April 26, 2012
    Nissan is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge (QC) network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge. These new points will boost existing networks and give EV customers greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car.
    Read More

Highlighted Content