July 2025 – emtechproject.eu

New open access publication available: European Initiatives Addressing High Efficiency and Low-Cost Electric Motors for Circularity and Low use of Rare Resources

11. July 2025/in News, Scientific/by emtechproject

SAE WCX 2025

The automotive industry is amidst an unprecedented multi-faceted transition striving for more sustainable passenger mobility and freight transportation. The rise of e-mobility is coming along with energy efficiency improvements, greenhouse gas and non-exhaust emission reductions, driving/propulsion technology innovations, and a hardware-software-ratio shift in vehicle development for road-based electric vehicles. Current R&D activities are focusing on electric motor topologies and designs, sustainability, manufacturing, prototyping, and testing. This is leading to a new generation of electric motors, which is considering recyclability, reduction of (rare earth) resource usage, cost criticality, and a full product life-cycle assessment, to gain broader market penetration. This paper outlines the latest advances of multiple EU-funded research projects under the Horizon Europe framework and showcases their complementarities to address the European priorities as identified in the 2Zero SRIA.

Target of this paper is to introduce a family of European projects (EM-TECH, HEFT, MAXIMA, VOLTCAR and CliMAFlux), all following the target of high efficiency and low-cost electric motors for circularity and low use of rare resources. Especially, this paper will describe the latest advances of the respective projects as well as their complementarity to address the 2Zero strategy.

Read the full paper HERE.

EM-TECH General Assembly

11. July 2025/in Meetings/by emtechproject

On July 8 and 9, the EM-TECH consortium gathered in the beautiful city of Kortrijk in Belgium to attend the General Assembly, kindly hosted by our project partner TRAXIAL.

As EM-TECH hits the very final phase of the project with the final 6 months already started, all efforts are directed towards final completion of results, documentation of activities and focusing on exploitation and “life after the project”.

#WEDRIVE2ZERO: Interview with DAMIAN BACKES

10. July 2025/in News/by emtechproject

Co-leader of Pillar 1 “Vehicle technologies and vehicle propulsion solutions for BEV and FCEV” (Research)

DAMIAN BACKES, Co-Leader of Pillar 1. Source: 2Zero

DAMIAN BACKES, Co-leader of Pillar 1 of 2Zero, where our project belongs to, has been interviewed by 2Zero on the importance of the technology area “Energy efficiency”. Projects such as EM-TECH and many other “focus on developing efficient next-generation electric powertrain technologies. In addition to making components more efficient, these projects also tackle the reduction of raw materials use, targeted re-use and recycling, to lay the groundwork for a circular economy”. Head over to 2Zero to read the full interview where he further elaborates on how does the technological area reflects the strategic vision and priorities of 2Zero and gives an outlook on future activities.

In-Wheel Motor Demo Day

2. July 2025/in Meetings/by emtechproject

Including Press Conference

Our project partner Elaphe Propulsion Technologies organized an In-Wheel Motor Demo Day, inviting international press to experience the advantages and impact of in-wheel motor technology. The invited journalists not only had the possibility to experience the technology first-hand but were also presented EM-TECH, alongside HighScape and SmartCorners in a press conference. After opening words from Gorazd Gotovac, elaphe and a general introduction from Eric Armengaud, Armengaud Innovate GmbH, EM-TECH was presented by the project coordinator Martin Weinzerl from AVL List GmbH. The press conference concluded with a vivid exchange and was followed by test drives for the participants of the SmartCorners and HighScape general assemblies, held in conjunction with the In-Wheel Motor Demo Day.

Thanks a lot to the enthusiastic team of elaphe for creating this special event that was an excellent opportunity to showcase up-to date technology and the EM-TECH project itself.