U-M Leads $2.6M DOE Project to Revolutionize Electric Motors with 3D-Printed Magnets
We're excited to share that the University of Michigan is spearheading a $2.6 million initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Office. The project aims to enhance electric motor efficiency and affordability by leveraging 3D printing technologies to produce advanced magnetic materials.
Under the leadership of Professor Lei Zuo, the research team will utilize laser powder bed fusion to 3D-print high-performance nanocrystalline soft magnetic cores and gradient permanent magnets. This approach seeks to:
Reduce eddy current losses by a factor of 10
Decrease iron core loss by a factor of 5
Triple the permeability of the iron core
Lower manufacturing costs by 40%
Eliminate the need for heavy rare-earth metals like dysprosium in permanent magnets
Collaborators include Virginia Tech, Iowa State University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Siemens.
This project represents a significant step toward sustainable and cost-effective electric motor production, with broad implications for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and industrial applications.
🔗 Read more: Michigan Engineering News