New Toyota EV motor needs less rare-earth metal, so costs less to make
Neodymium, used in magnets, is pricey, and its supplies are in doubt
Neodymium
Need rare earth metals? Switched-reluctance motors don't
Most hybrid and electric vehicles rely on rare earth metals. There'd be nothing wrong with that if China didn't supply in excess of 90 percent of the world's rare earth metals. Why is this a problem? Because China's recent decision to slash export quotas on rare earth metals has caused a surge in prices, for one thing.
Study: Lack of recycling threatens future of hybrid, plug-in vehicles
A UN-backed report released late last week warns that lack of recycling threatens the future of hybrid and plug-on vehicles. In particular, the report, issued by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), claims that:
California mine may benefit from Chinese rare earth metal "hoarding"
China's decision to begin hoarding using it's rare earth metal resources to bolster productivity in Mongolia may have Toyota bracing itself (and makin
REPORT: Toyota braces for rare earth metal shortage
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
REPORT: China pondering hoarding precious metal exports used in hybrids and EVs by banning exportation
Ever hear of neodymium? How about dysprosium or yttrium? Thulium or lutetium? These are just some of the metals that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is considering either banning for export or at least severely limiting the amount that it will let leave the country. These precious metals are used in manufacturing new, sometimes green, technologies, and China wants keep the good available for domestic use.