Rare Earth-Free Next-generation High Power Density Electric Powertrain

道路运输产生的碳排放量约占英国/全球的1/4，氮氧化物和颗粒物排放量约占英国/全球的1/3（造成空气质量差/烟雾和相关的不良健康影响，如呼吸系统疾病-特别是在人口密集的城市地区）\[DFT 2021\]。电动汽车（EV）是英国政府净零排放战略的关键部分，其中还包括到2030年代逐步淘汰新的汽油/柴油汽车的计划。许多领先的汽车制造商现在已经公开承诺电动汽车的未来。英国和全球消费者对电动汽车的需求正在迅速增长，全球发达经济体的政府/行业关键参与者正在大力投资充电基础设施，消费者激励和国内电动汽车零部件供应链。关键电动汽车零部件的供应需要跟上需求，以实现汽车行业的净零目标。锂-镍-钴供应链经常被认为是电动汽车电池的潜在瓶颈，但不太被广泛认识的是动力系统的稀土元素供应链瓶颈（需要电机和电力电子设备来高效驱动它们）。动力系统通过电磁能的控制，将储存在电池中的化学能转化为车轮的动能/移动能-因此，它们在推动整体电动汽车性能、续航里程和成本方面发挥着核心作用。目前使用的绝大多数电动汽车动力系统都依赖于稀土元素来提供高推进性能（功率和扭矩密度）和功率转换效率水平。动力系统的性能和效率共同决定了行驶里程沿着以及电池容量/效率和车辆重量。高性能和续航里程加上可负担性是电动汽车与熟悉和值得信赖的汽油/柴油汽车相比对消费者具有吸引力的关键。如果稀土元素变得稀缺（根据定义，它们是罕见的），电动汽车动力系统的成本将显著增加，电动汽车的性能和范围将受到相当大的限制-使汽车电气化项目处于危险之中。稀土元素开采伴随着严重的环境污染（包括进入大气的放射性废物和作为灰尘/径流的供水）和恶劣的工作条件。为了应对这一挑战，该项目将推进一种独特的和高度创新的无稀土动力系统设计的开发，符合当前行业领先的性能和效率水平。这将支持电动汽车带来可观的环境效益（减缓气候变化和空气质量），而没有与稀土元素供应链相关的负面影响。通过这一过程，该项目的成果还将为英国纳税人带来可观的投资回报、高价值的制造业就业机会和国内电动汽车供应链安全。

Road transport produces around 1/4 of UK/Global carbon emissions and 1/3 of UK/Global NOx and particulate emissions (responsible for poor air quality/smog and associated adverse health effects such as respiratory disease - particularly in densely-populated urban areas) \[DFT2021\].Electric Vehicles (EVs) form a key part of the UK government's net-zero strategy, which also includes plans to phase out new petrol/diesel cars by the 2030s. Many leading vehicle manufacturers have now publicly committed to an electric future.UK and global consumer demand for EVs is rising rapidly, and governments/industry key players in developed economies worldwide are investing heavily in charging infrastructure, consumer incentives and domestic EV component supply chains.The supply of key EV components needs to keep pace with demand to deliver net-zero ambitions in the automotive sector. The Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt supply chain is often cited as a potential bottleneck for EV batteries, but less widely-recognised is the rare-earth-element supply chain bottleneck for powertrains (motors and power electronics required to drive them efficiently).Powertrains convert the chemical energy stored in batteries into kinetic/moving energy of the wheels through the control of electromagnetic energy - they are therefore central in driving overall EV performance, range and cost.The vast majority of EV powertrains in use today rely on rare-earth-elements to deliver high propulsion performance (power and torque density) and power conversion efficiency levels. Powertrain performance and efficiency together determine range along with battery capacity/efficiency and vehicle weight.High performance and range combined with affordability are critical to making EVs attractive to consumers versus familiar and trusted petrol/diesel cars. If access to rare-earth-elements becomes scarce (they are rare by definition), the cost of EV powertrains would increase significantly, and the performance and range of EVs would be considerably limited - putting the project of automotive electrification at risk.Furthermore, rare-earth-element mining is associated with severe environmental pollution (including radioactive waste entering the atmosphere and water supplies as dust/runoff) and poor working conditions.In response to this challenge, this project will progress the development of a unique and highly innovative rare-earth-free powertrain design, which matches current industry-leading levels of performance and efficiency.This will support delivery of the considerable environmental benefits of EVs (climate change mitigation and air quality), without the downsides associated with rare-earth-element supply chains. Through this process, the outcomes of the project will additionally deliver a significant UK taxpayer return on investment, high-value manufacturing jobs and domestic EV supply chain security.