Tesla’s Model 3 already cut 25% rare earths. This is important because there are many factors, including the Biden administration’s current push for domestic materials for electric vehicle parts. There are many misconceptions about what rare earth elements are and how many of them are used in electric vehicles. In fact, lithium-ion batteries often do not contain rare earth elements.

Electric vehicle (EV) motors use rare earth elements instead of batteries. The most popular is neodymium, which is used to make strong magnets for electric motors, hard drives, and speakers. Neodymium magnets often contain the additives dysprosium and terbium.

Tesla’s vehicles were originally powered by AC induction motors, which do not require rare earth elements. The company name is derived from Nikola Tesla, who developed the AC induction motor. But when the Model 3 was released, the company introduced all-new permanent magnet motors, and then started using these motors in all of its other vehicles. Tesla today announced that it has reduced the use of rare earth elements in its new Model 3 power unit by 25% by improving powertrain efficiency over the past five years. But now it looks like Tesla is trying to combine the best of both worlds with a rare-earth-free permanent magnet motor.

Tesla was vague when asked about the exact materials they use, probably because they consider that information a trade secret they don’t want to reveal. As for the upcoming motor, Tesla’s photos show it will have permanent magnets but will not use rare earth elements. Neodymium permanent magnets have long been the standard for such applications, but over the past decade research has focused on other potential materials that could be an alternative. Tesla hasn’t said which one it plans to use, but it looks like it’s being forced to choose, or at least thinks it’ll find a better option soon.

RELATED STORIES:

https://www.freethink.com/transportation/rare-earth-elements-permanent-magnets

https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/tesla-magnetic-engine

https://insideevs.com/news/655233/tesla-next-gen-eletric-motors-no-rare-earth-elements/

https://electrek.co/2023/03/01/tesla-is-going-back-to-ev-motors-with-no-rare-earth-elements

https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-article/how-can-tesla-shift-away-from-rare-earths/28820

Take Action:

https://www.facebook.com/TeslaMotorsCorp/
https://twitter.com/Tesla