The Traction Motor
The heart of an electric vehicle is its traction motor. While induction motors (like those used in early Teslas) don’t use rare earths, the industry has shifted overwhelmingly to Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM).
Why Rare Earths?
Using Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets allows the motor to be smaller, lighter, and-crucially-more efficient. A more efficient motor means the car can travel further on the same battery charge. This “Range Efficiency” is why 90%+ of new EVs use rare earth motors.
The Heat Problem
To stop the magnets from losing their power as the motor gets hot, manufacturers add Dysprosium and Terbium. These heavy rare earths are the “spice” that makes high-performance EVs possible.