Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Systematic review demonstrates the practical viability of rare-earth-free ferrite motors for electric vehicles, highlighting competitive torque and power densities across optimized topologies.
This paper presents a comparative review of ferrite-based traction motors for electric vehicle (EV) applications. While numerous studies have examined ferrite-based motor designs in isolation, the literature still lacks a systematic comparative assessment across three levels: (i) the performance benchmarks of current commercial EV motors, (ii) the suitability of ferrite compared with rare-earth (RE) and other emerging permanent magnets, and (iii) the feasibility of ferrite-based motor topologies. A structured review, drawing on manufacturers’ datasheets, government and third-party reports, material databases, and peer-reviewed literature, is conducted to systematically compare these three levels and address the identified gap. The analysis shows that ferrite offers the most practical RE-free alternative, combining low cost, supply stability, and environmental sustainability, despite its lower remanence and coercivity compared with RE magnets. Design studies reveal that spoke-type, ferrite-assisted synchronous reluctance, and axial flux topologies can mitigate these limitations. Recent prototypes already demonstrate torque and power densities within the range of commercial EV motors, confirming that ferrite-based designs are no longer confined to theoretical feasibility. Overall, the evidence synthesized in this review indicates the practical viability of ferrite-based traction motors for EV applications.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Cui et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: