Niron Magnetics has announced a collaboration with Stellantis to develop a new generation of electric motor designs for automotive use using magnets free of rare-earth elements.
The project builds on Stellantis Ventures’ 2023 investment in Niron Magnetics and includes $2.7 million in additional support from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO).
The initiative aligns with the Department’s goals to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign critical materials.
Permanent magnets are essential to many vehicle systems, including propulsion, power steering, and auxiliary pumps. They’re particularly important in EV powertrains, where efficiency, temperature stability, and magnetic strength directly affect motor performance.
Conventional permanent magnets depend on rare earth elements, most of which are sourced from China. Niron Magnetics’ Iron Nitride technology offers an alternative made from iron and nitrogen, which are abundant materials available in the United States and globally.
The joint project, titled “Variable Flux Field Intensifying Motors Using Iron Nitride Permanent Magnets,” will focus on optimizing motor architecture across vehicle platforms to improve performance and efficiency using Niron’s rare-earth-free magnets.
“This collaboration represents an important step in scaling Iron Nitride technology to meet the demand for permanent magnets and strengthen domestic supply chains for leading manufacturers like Stellantis,” said Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron Magnetics.
The announcement coincides with the groundbreaking of Niron Magnetics’ first commercial-scale manufacturing facility in Sartell, Minnesota. Once fully operational, the facility will produce up to 1,500 tons of magnets annually and create 175 full-time jobs.
Niron Magnetics and Stellantis will also work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Illinois Institute of Technology to advance motor systems analysis and testing as part of the project.
Filed Under: Electric Motor, Technology News