Evaluation of the Recyclability of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors to Mitigate Material Criticality

Sustainable technologies are increasing the demand for rare earths. Due to geo political dependencies and the ecological impact of mining, Europe’s supply of
raw materials is considered critical in this regard. Permanent magnet synchronous motors for vehicle powertrains are predominantly based on neodymium iron boron magnets. In a FAT research project, the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materi als Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS evaluated the recyclability of NdFeB magnets and investigated their performance.