Helping the Auto Industry Reduce its Reliance on Rare Earth Materials - Niron Magnetics' CEO

The permanent magnets in EV motor rotors are typically made from rare earth minerals, which are expensive and are often sourced from China. Niron Magnetics has developed the world’s first permanent magnet that is entirely free from these critical materials. 

The  Minneapolis-based startup has also gained the backing from GM, Stellantis, Volvo Tech Fund, Allison Transmission, and Magna.

"Niron's Clean Earth Magnet is an advanced permanent magnet made from iron nitride nanoparticles. The magnet is designed to deliver high magnetic performance, which enables the use of the Clean Earth Magnet in over 75 applications in automobiles, including speakers, sensors, and electric vehicle drive motors," says Jonathan Rowntree, CEO of Niron Magnetics.

The company is scaling the world’s first advanced manufacturing process for the mass production of permanent magnets powered by its proprietary material formulation. 

For the automotive industry, one of the key benefits of the Clean Earth Magnet is its ability to deliver high magnetic field density and strength.

"This allows for miniaturization in applications requiring compact, powerful magnets, which is particularly important in the automotive industry where space and weight are at a premium," he explains.

Another advantage of the Clean Earth Magnet is its thermal robustness in magnetic performance across temperature swings.

"Neodymium magnets, which are commonly used in the automotive industry, require heavy rare earth doping to maintain strengths at higher operating temperatures. In contrast, the Clean Earth Magnet's intrinsic material characteristics provide stability from cryogenic through temperatures over 180°C, making it ideal for use in electric vehicle drive motors that operate in a wide range of temperatures."

"Finally, the Clean Earth Magnet is a rare-earth-free permanent magnet, which is an important consideration for the auto industry as it seeks to reduce its reliance on rare earths. This not only helps to mitigate supply chain risks but also reduces the environmental impact of magnet production," adds Rowntree.

Coming Full Circle

GM and Niron have completed a strategic partnership agreement to co-develop Clean Earth Magnet motor technology that can be used in future GM EVs. GM Ventures has also made an investment in Niron.

The investment will support the scaling of Niron’s manufacturing and commercialization of its sustainable magnets.

"To make an all-electric future a reality, Niron’s magnets present a great opportunity to augment traditional magnet supply and reduce environmental impact compared to traditional magnet materials," says Rowntree.

In a press release, Anirvan Coomer, president of GM Ventures, comments: "Nearly 40 years ago, GM’s R&D team discovered and commercialized the world’s first high-powered, rare-earth permanent magnet material. GM Ventures’ investment in Niron’s Magnetics brings our rich history in specialized magnet innovation full circle. Niron’s Clean Earth Magnet could help GM make more affordable EVs for its customers out of more abundant materials.”

The company recently announced $25 million in new strategic funding from Samsung Ventures, Allison Transmission and Magna. Stellantis backed Niron's previous funding round.

"This funding will help Niron expand its pilot production facilities, enhancing its ability to serve diverse clientele and support customer prototyping programs. The company will also scale up manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand and accelerate research and development efforts to drive continuous improvement in performance and efficiency," says Rowntree.

Beyond the auto sector, Niron anticipates significant involvement in other industries, such as audio systems, industrial motors, and wind turbines, where strong permanent magnets play a key role in driving efficiency and performance.

A Stable Supply Chain For The Auto Sector

Rare earth magnets rely heavily on minerals primarily sourced from China, which has previously limited exports, resulting in price fluctuations and disruptions in the supply chain.

"These challenges significantly affect the cost and availability of crucial components like electric motors in EVs that heavily rely on these magnets," says Rowntree.

"Niron's Clean Earth Magnet addresses this issue by using abundant and sustainable materials that don't have the same supply chain vulnerabilities as rare earth elements. By using abundant and environmentally friendly materials, iron and nitrogen, Niron’s iron nitride magnets offer an alternative with superior magnetic properties and comparable performance. This shift decreases the reliance on rare earth elements, providing a more stable supply chain for the automotive sector, especially when it comes to EVs."

Finally, we asked him what e-mobility in the US will look like by ther end of the decade.

"By 2030, the landscape of e-mobility in the US will likely feature a diverse mix of vehicles, including conventional internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid, and EVs. Each of these vehicle types will contain significant magnet content, with the proportion increasing from ICE to hybrid to full EV," he predicts.

"Amidst this shift, Niron stands as a key player, strategically positioned to supply permanent magnets across all vehicle types, with a keen focus on innovation and sustainability," concludes Rowntree.