Toyota Motor Corporation has developed the world's first neodymium-reduced, heat-resistant magnet. Neodymium magnets are used in various types of motors such as the high-output motors found in electrified vehicles, use of which is expected to increase rapidly in the future. The new magnet uses significantly less neodymium, a rare-earth element, and can be used in high-temperature conditions. The newly developed magnet uses no terbium (Tb) or dysprosium (Dy), which are rare earths that are also categorized as critical materials(3) necessary for highly heat-resistant neodymium magnets. A portion of the neodymium has been replaced with lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce), which are low-cost rare earths, reducing the amount of neodymium used in the magnet. |
Toyota expects that the magnets will be put to use in the motors of electric power steering for automobiles and other applications in the first half of the 2020s. Furthermore, the company will undertake development with the aim of practical application in high-performance electrified vehicle drive motors within the next 10 years. |
Li-ion cells use a cathode (positive electrode), an anode (negative electrode) and electrolyte as conductor. The cathode is mainly composed of Nickel (73%), Cobalt (14%), Lithium (11%), and Aluminium (2%). The anode is usually completely made of graphite.10 The electrolyte consists of Lithium salts (the most common being lithium hexafluorophosphate, LiPF6) in an organic solvent. Li resources are wide spread and not dominated by a single country, with still un-tapped S A reserves this situation seem to tide over the crisis of availability due to concentration at a single point. |
For Cobalt, estimated reserves in the three leading countries (DRC, Australia, Cuba) suggest the adequate reserves available when worldwide goes into EV production. The Risk is 65% of worldwide cobalt production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disproportionate weight of the DRC in the worldwide cobalt production, and its political instability, could lead to supply risks if cobalt sourcing is not diversified in the future. The Graphite used in anodes today comes exclusively from China which also supplies about 80% of the available rare earth minerals. This lack of diversified supply is a concern in the future. |
Electric motors include a number of rare earth elements (REE), a group of 17 chemical elements which are despite their name not especially scarce resources but are available in only small amounts dispersed on the Earth’s crust. Most electric vehicles (with the exception of Tesla) use Neodymium Iron Boron permanent magnets (NdFeB), which are essential to produce high-performance electric motors. Such magnets contain Neodymium (Nd), Praseodymium (Pr), and Dysprosium (Dy) Rare Earth Elements. Expensive neodymium already is the main cost driver in the production of magnets. If electric vehicles will gain popularity as expected, shortages of neodymium could occur as early as 2025. This is high risk going by the fact that China wields a virtual monopoly on neodymium. Past evidence shows China had enacted a temporary export ban of neodymium, triggering a rare earth crisis. In nearing conclusion going to EV is a good thing but need to tread with caution considering there is a high risk of concentration of certain elements of producing an EV only in a few countries and hence the need for innovative ways that will contribute to reduce the quantity of critical metals used in EV’s |
Originally Posted by volkman10
(Post 4361214)
The advent of EV’s – will any country hold ransom being electric future? Hence the real two are those of using critical metals and rare earth minerals 2. The supply of cobalt needed to make batteries 3. The supply of rare earth minerals needed to make the magnets in electric motors. EV batteries are predominantly Lithium-ion batteries, (e.g. NCA, NMC7), which use Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, and Graphite. |
adoption of EVs could follow Transport for London model in India. |
with lithium battery production already up by half in 2017 and the waste set to hit as much as 170,000 tonnes this year, the government is racing to improve its recycling capabilities and stamp out what could become a growing source of pollution. |
China’s industry ministry has issued ‘interim’ rules on Monday that hold carmakers responsible for the recovery of new energy vehicle batteries and require them to set up recycling channels and service outlets where old batteries can be collected, stored and transferred to specialist recyclers. Additionally, the carmakers must also establish a maintenance service network allowing members of the public to repair or exchange their old batteries conveniently, the ministry said. These measures aimed at spurring good practice among consumers, including subsidies or battery repurchase pacts, should also be adopted Together with battery makers and their sales units, the vehicle manufacturer must also set up a ‘traceability’ system that will enable identification of owners of discarded batteries. The battery makers will also be encouraged to adopt standardised and easily dismantled product designs, which will help automate the recycling process. They must also provide technical training for car makers to store and dismantle old batteries. |
-Average CO2 emissions increased by 0.3g/km in 2017, the first rise in Europe in 10 years -The decline of diesel vehicles was a key factor in the rise in CO2 levels, along with an increase in SUV registrations -EU CO2 targets of 95g/km could be difficult to achieve, should demand for diesel continue to fall and electric vehicles fail to plug the gap |
market share of petrol vehicles grew by 3 percentage points from 47% to 50% between 2016 and 2017. |
Toyota became Europe’s cleanest car brand amongst the top 20 best-selling brands. This can be attributed to increased demand for its hybrid vehicle models, which represented half of all registrations for the brand |
Volkswagen wasn't giving up on either the internal combustion engine or diesel, both of which can be further improved. |
diesel engine hasn't been talked to death by then, because the modern diesel is part of the solution, and not part of the problem |
This is not one of our core competencies, and others can do it better than we can. |
While the 11-brand conglomerate has global plans for 80 new electrified vehicles by 2025, including 50 full electrics, it will stay out of the battery manufacturing business. |
There’s a lot of talk about electric vehicle fires even though there’s no statistic showing that they catch on fire any more frequently than gas-powered cars. But there’s no doubt that they burn differently due to the battery packs and it is affecting the work of first responders |
At one point, 35 firefighters were involved in controlling a Tesla Model S fire. |
Originally Posted by sgiitk
(Post 4376449)
@rst89; One must also vector in the very low running costs (electricity is far cheaper than fossil fuels), and also vector in the far lower maintenance. The main costs may be the battery replacement costs. |
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