Carbon-Based Magnets

Default ARPA-E Project Image

Program:
REACT
Award:
$2,171,337
Location:
Richmond, Virginia
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
01/01/2012 - 12/31/2013
Website:

Technology Description:

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is developing a new magnet for use in renewable power generators and EV motors that requires no rare earth minerals. Rare earths are difficult and expensive to process, but they make electric motors and generators smaller, lighter, and more efficient. VCU would replace the rare earth minerals in EV motor magnets with a low-cost and abundant carbon-based compound that resembles a fine black powder. This new magnet could demonstrate the same level of performance as the best commercial magnets available today at a significantly lower cost. The ultimate goal of this project is to demonstrate this new magnet in a prototype electric motor.

Potential Impact:

If successful, VCU's project would result in a magnet that contains no rare earth minerals and could help power a renewable power generator or an EV motor as well as any of today's best commercial magnets.

Security:

The U.S. produces a small fraction globally of industrial rare earths. Developing alternatives to the use of rare earths has the potential to reduce our dependence on these materials and will have a positive impact on our national economic and energy security.

Environment:

The transportation and electric power sectors account for nearly 75% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions each year. Better magnets would support the widespread use of EVs and wind power, significantly reducing these emissions.

Economy:

The U.S. spends nearly $1 billion per day on imported petroleum. Improvements in magnet technology would enable a broader use of EVs, which would help insulate our economy from unexpected spikes in the price of oil.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Ping Liu
Project Contact:
Prof. Everett Carpenter
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
ecarpenter2@vcu.edu

Partners

Bayer Technology Services
Northeastern University
Moog Components
University of California, San Diego
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Arnold Magnetic Technologies

Related Projects

• Ames National Laboratory - Cerium-Based Magnets
• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) - Exchange-Spring Magnets
• Baldor Electric Company - Rare-Earth-Free Traction Motor
• Brookhaven National Laboratory - Improved Superconducting Wire for Wind Generators
• Case Western Reserve University - Iron-Nitride Alloy Magnets
• Dartmouth College - Manganese-Aluminum-Based Magnets
• Northeastern University - Iron-Nickel-Based Supermagnets
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) - Manganese-Based Magnets
• QM Power - Efficient, High-Torque Electric Vehicle Motor
• University of Alabama - Rare-Earth-Free Nanostructure Magnets
• University of Houston - Low-Cost Superconducting Wire for Wind Generators
• University of Minnesota (UMN) - Iron-Nitride-Based Magnets
• University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) - Double-Stator Motor Design
• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) - Carbon-Based Magnets

Release Date:
04/20/2011