Project description
A low-cost electric traction motor without rare earth magnets for commercial vehicles
With the rapid uptake of electric vehicles due to consumer preference and new regulations, the need for cost- and resource-efficient traction motors is increasing. Electric traction motors turn the wheels of a truck with electric power. Most currently rely on rare earth magnets that depend on critical raw materials, which are not only expensive, but their supply can also fluctuate given that most of them are imported. The UK SME Advanced Electric Machines has developed a patent-pending drive configuration that cuts costs and eliminates the use of rare earth magnets. The EU-funded REFITT project will support the team in optimising the technology and integrating quality management systems.
Objective
Rare Earth Free Innovative Truck Traction (REFITT) will see the full commercialisation of HDSRM, a unique, rare-earth magnet free traction motor concept for use in electric commercial vehicles. The commercial vehicle sector is not well supported by Tier 1 suppliers of electric traction motors, necessary to see the wide spread adoption of zero emissions electric vehicles in our cities. This new traction motor technology has already been proven to TRL6 in a 7.5 tonne parallel hybrid truck and is currently being readied for trial in a range extended truck. REFITT will allow Newcastle University spin-out company, Advanced Electric Machines Ltd, to become such a Tier 1. HDSRM takes the benefits of Switched Reluctance Motor technology and overcomes its weaknesses, through the use of a patent-pending drive configuration, allowing a six phase motor to be driven from an industry standard three phase inverter. This configuration has been demonstrated to increase performance whilst reducing torque ripple and acoustic noise, to levels equivalent to machines which need rare earth magnets; but without the need to use these expensive materials which fall at the top of the EU's critical list. REFITT will support Advanced Electric Machines Ltd in fully proving this traction motor technology, enabling a full process of design for manufacture, undertaking extended vehicle trails in trucks and buses whilst also undertaken the off-vehicle testing to fully prove the system. The company will also prepare itself to become a supplier acceptable to OEMs, putting in place quality management systems and processes and establishing world class facilities. The company is already partnered with a Truck manufacturer and has established links with Bus, Taxi and even Boat builders. REFITT will therefore establish a new leading supplier of traction drives, offering class leading technology, in the critical but poorly served commercial vehicle sector.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences social geography transport electric vehicles
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.3.4. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Smart, Green And Integrated Transport
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
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H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
NE39 2EB Rowlands Gill
United Kingdom
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.