Honda unveils first hybrid motor without heavy rare earth metals

Honda pledged to reduce its use of rare earth metals a decade ago, and the automaker took another step towards that goal this week. It unveiled its new hybrid motor that was co-developed alongside Daido Steel, another Japan-based company. The new motor doesn't use heavy rare earth metals like dysprosium and terbium, instead relying on magnets from Daido Steel that cost 10 percent less and weigh 8 percent lighter than the previous components. In fact, the automaker is the first to develop a hybrid motor that doesn't use the heavy metals. Honda says the new engines will reduce its reliance on the pricey rare earth metals that are primarily supplied by China.

The new hybrid motors will make their debut in the compact Freed minivan this fall, a vehicle that's already on the road in Asia. Honda also noted during the announcement that not only would cutting out the rare earth metals save money, but it would also reduce the potential for price fluctuations on the materials it uses to build the engines. The new motors don't nix rare earth elements entirely though, as the new version still has neodymium which is found in North America, Australia and China.

 

 

 

This is a big deal. Rare earth metals are used predominantly in magnets used to make batteries, and are found primarily in China and North Korea. China essentially owns the world market on REM.

 

Not only will the development of non-REM hybrid motors remove some of China's income and a portion of their involvement in technology development, it will also have positive environmental impacts, as much REM mining operations can often produce radioactive waste products via the materials mined along with their desired minerals.

 

Think of everything you use that involves a battery. Virtually all of those items can someday be benefited by Honda's development of a non-REM motor.