AEM drives sustainable motor innovation

A Sunderland-based technology company is helping drive the transition to sustainable passenger vehicles.

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) has unveiled its SSRD (Super Speed Reluctance Motor) technology demonstrator for passenger cars, showing that high performance can be achieved using only abundant, widely available materials. 

The announcement coincides with the firm securing a major seven-figure contract with a leading global tier one company to develop SSRD motors for high-volume applications.

Global supply chains for rare earth elements such as neodymium and dysprosium are highly concentrated in a small number of countries, leaving manufacturers vulnerable to supply disruptions, price spikes and long-term strategic dependence on limited sources.

AEM’s SSRD technology eliminates the need for these critical materials entirely, achieving up to 30,000 rpm performance, excellent results on the WLTP drive cycle and high efficiency in real-world driving conditions, all while relying on fully recyclable and widely available materials.

The motor’s simplified design reduces complexity in production, supports cost-effective manufacturing at scale and strengthens supply chain resilience, demonstrating that it is possible to deliver high-performance electric motors without relying on scarce or geopolitically sensitive minerals.

Dr James Widmer, chief executive and co-founder of Advanced Electric Machines, which was founded in 2017 as a spin-out from Newcastle University, said: “This technology demonstrator proves that British innovation can address one of the automotive industry's key supply chain challenges.

“We're demonstrating a path to enhanced supply chain resilience while delivering superior performance outcomes for our customers.”

He added: “We're proving that supply chain diversification is achievable today.

“This demonstrator shows passenger car manufacturers that they can achieve superior performance while building more resilient and flexible supply chains."

The passenger car demonstrator arrives at a pivotal moment for the UK automotive industry, as policymakers continue to finalise the long-awaited Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to secure reliable, sustainable sources of materials for electric vehicle production.

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