Rare earth-free motors redraw battle lines in India’s EV scooter market
The battle for dominance in India’s electric scooter market is moving from flashy launches to the nuts and bolts of engineering — the motor. With China curbing exports of heavy rare earth (HRE) magnets, a critical component in EV drivetrains, automakers are scrambling for alternatives.
Bengaluru-based Simple Energy on Tuesday said it has begun commercial production of HRE-free motors, the first by an Indian manufacturer. Designed in-house and produced at its Hosur plant in Tamil Nadu, the motors replace HRE magnets with alternate compounds without affecting torque or performance.
