Nissan tests an EV motor-magnet recycling breakthrough

Entertainment

Nissan and Waseda University in Tokyo have been working together since 2017, and today, they announced that they are starting the testing of a recycling process that recovers high-purity, rare-earth compounds from electric vehicle motor magnets.

First, they heat a used motor to 2,552F (1,400C) to melt it down. Then iron oxide is added to oxidize the rare-earth elements (REEs).

Next, a small amount of borate-based flux, which can dissolve rare-earth oxides and recover REEs efficiently, is added to the molten mixture.

The molten mixture then separates into two liquid layers. The molten oxide layer – called slag – that contains the REEs floats to the top, and the higher-density iron-carbon alloy layer sinks to the bottom. The REEs are then easily recovered from the slag. Have a look:

Nissan claims that it’s been able to recover 98% of a motor’s rare-earth elements using their new recycling process. 

The automaker also says the method slashes the recovery process by around 50%, compared to the current method, because there is no need to demagnetize, remove, or take apart the magnets.

Nissan is aiming to launch its new recycling process by mid-decade.

Read more: Nissan joins UN-backed ‘Race to Zero’ campaign, aiming for 100% EVs by… ‘the early 2030s’

Photo: Nissan


Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.

Articles You May Like

Actress who starred in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? dies
Rescuers break through debris trapping 41 miners in Indian tunnel
Abu Dhabi state-backed fund moves to take control of Daily Telegraph
American Airlines works with startup to reduce carbon dioxide by storing bricks of plant material underground
UK sending one of its most lethal warships to Gulf to deter Iran-backed groups