The European Automotive Suppliers Association (CLEPA) has recognized ZF with its Innovation Award in the ‘Green’ category for developing an electric motor that operates without rare earth metals. The announcement was made at CLEPA’s 65th anniversary celebration in Brussels on 4th December 2024.
The new motor, called I²SM (In-Rotor Inductive-Excited Synchronous Machine), eliminates the need for magnets through an inductively excited system in the rotor. This technological advancement addresses key sustainability challenges in electric vehicle production while maintaining performance standards.
“This award is a recognition of our continuous efforts to develop innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for electromobility,” said Dr. Otmar Scharrer, Head of Engineering Electrified Powertrain Technology at ZF. “With our electric motor, we are demonstrating a more sustainable alternative to conventional solutions that does not require the use of rare earths and at the same time offers maximum performance.”
The design offers several advantages over traditional permanent magnet synchronous machines (PSM). By eliminating drag losses from permanent magnets, the motor achieves better efficiency during high-speed highway travel. More significantly, it reduces dependence on rare earth metals, which are known for their environmental impact during mining and processing.
This marks ZF’s fourth CLEPA Innovation Award in recent years. The company previously won for its autonomous shuttle in 2022, an environmentally friendly eTrailer in 2020, and the Evasive Maneuver Assist system in 2017, developed jointly with WABCO.
CLEPA selected the winner from approximately 80 applications, with judges evaluating entries based on their contribution to sustainable and climate-neutral mobility. The awards ceremony took place at Autoworld in Brussels, where industry leaders gathered to recognize breakthrough technologies in automotive manufacturing.
