Category: News

AEM urges UK automotive leaders to break rare-earth dependency before EV transition stalls

Posted on by telliott
  • Export controls and concentrated supply chains put UK EV production and net zero targets at risk
  • Proven rare-earth-free motor technology offers an immediate, lower-impact alternative
  • “The technology to remove this vulnerability already exists. What’s missing is the urgency to adopt it,” Dr James Widmer

The UK automotive industry is sleepwalking into its next major supply chain crisis, according to Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), which is urging manufacturers and policymakers to act now to eliminate the sector’s reliance on rare earth materials before it compromises the electric vehicle transition.

In a new white paper released today, AEM warns that the widespread use of rare-earth permanent magnet motors in electric vehicles has created a single point of failure comparable to the semiconductor shortage that crippled global car production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike semiconductors, however, this vulnerability is structural, worsening and already being exploited.

Recent export licensing restrictions on rare earth elements have forced production shutdowns across Europe, with manufacturers warning that further disruption is imminent. With one country controlling the vast majority of rare earth processing capacity, the report argues that the UK’s decarbonisation targets, automotive competitiveness and economic security are all now exposed to geopolitical, environmental and cyber risks beyond domestic control.

The white paper also emphasises that most electric vehicles rely on up to a kilogram of rare earths per motor, materials that are environmentally destructive to extract and increasingly subject to export controls. With the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requiring 80% of new car sales to be zero-emission by 2030, AEM argues that current supply trajectories simply cannot support the required growth in EV production.

Crucially, the report challenges the assumption that rare earths are unavoidable. It sets out how proven, commercially deployed alternatives already exist. AEM’s rare-earth-free motor technology has accumulated more than four million kilometres in real-world operation across buses and light rail, delivering comparable performance, lower costs and significantly reduced environmental impact.

Lifecycle analysis cited in the report shows magnet-free motors can cut environmental impact by more than half compared to conventional permanent magnet designs, while also removing exposure to volatile rare earth pricing and geopolitically concentrated supply chains.

In tandem with these developments, the UK Government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy is a positive step in recognising the risks of highly concentrated supply chains, but AEM argues resilience will not be achieved by simply sourcing rare earths from different places. Where proven technologies exist that eliminate the need for critical minerals altogether, accelerating their adoption offers a faster, more secure route to meeting net zero targets and protecting the UK automotive sector from future disruption.

“We’ve been here before,” said Dr James Widmer, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Electric Machines. “The semiconductor crisis showed how quickly a hidden dependency can shut down production, damage confidence, and cost the industry billions. Rare earths represent an even greater risk because the dependency is deeper, the supply chains are more concentrated, and the disruption is no longer hypothetical. The technology to remove this vulnerability already exists. What’s missing is the urgency to adopt it.”

The white paper calls for immediate pilot programmes by UK manufacturers, coordinated supply chain risk assessments, and targeted government support to accelerate domestic production of rare-earth-free motors. It argues that establishing even partial independence within the next five years would materially reduce the risk of production shutdowns, missed climate targets and loss of consumer confidence in the EV transition.

To view the white paper in full, please visit: [LINK].

ENDS

About AEM

Advanced Electric Machines’ vision is to design and build the world’s most sustainable EV motors for the global automotive and transport sectors. It utilises its expertise in materials, manufacturing and design to ensure its solutions are not only more sustainable, but also more efficient and cost-effective.

Based in the Northeast of England, Advanced Electric Machines Limited was founded in 2017, when it was spun out from Newcastle University’s world-class electric motor research team, led by AEM’s CEO, Dr James Widmer, and CTO, Dr Andy Steven.

AEM technologies are covered by 46 international patents protecting their unique motor designs and manufacturing processes around the world.

Contacts:

Advanced Electric Machines

John Edden, Torque Agency Group

jedden@torqueagencygroup.com | +44 (0) 7403 640 213

Euan Antona, Torque Agency Group

eantona@torqueagencygroup.com | +44 (0) 7702 334 887

The Rare Earth Contagion_V3Download

The Next Generation of HDRM motors

Posted on by telliott

Next generation UK-manufactured motor reaps efficiency gains for heavy duty applications

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) sets new standards in electric motor efficiency with next-generation solution

  • New HDRM300C motor brings stronger performance and greater efficiency to AEM’s commercial vehicle-focused motor
  • Revolutionary compressed coil technology achieves over 80% conductor slot fill rate compared to conventional 60%
  • Enhanced thermal management and cooling design delivers superior continuous performance; higher top speed adds greater flexibility for customers
  • Samples available from March, production due to commence in Q4 2025

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), the UK-based manufacturer of sustainable, magnet-free electric motors, has unveiled the second generation of its popular solution for heavy duty and commercial vehicle applications. HDRM300C strengthens AEM’s position as a leading producer of rare-earth free motors and provides customers with an enhanced motor that offers stronger performance and greater efficiency.

Building on the success of its HDRM150 motor, where AEM first developed and validated its innovative coil compression technology, the HDRM300C represents a major advancement in electric motor design, achieving industry-leading conductor slot fill rates exceeding 80%. This proven technology, now evolved and scaled up from the smaller HDRM150, delivers measurably better power density and efficiency compared to conventional wire layouts that typically achieve less than 60% fill rates.

“The HDRM300C represents more than just an incremental improvement in motor technology,” says James Widmer, CEO of Advanced Electric Machines. “By combining our patented coil compression technology with enhanced thermal management and improved speed capabilities, we’re delivering a motor that sets new benchmarks for efficiency and performance. For the transportation industry, this means more capable electric vehicles that are more cost effective to operate and maintain.”

The practical benefits extend beyond pure performance. The HDRM300’s increased speed capability provides greater flexibility for system integration across diverse applications. New plug-in connectors have replaced traditional gland fittings, simplifying the installation and maintenance process, while maximising overall reliability. Internal components, including upgraded bearings and robust busbar connections, have been strengthened to support the motor’s higher operational speeds.

An improved motor cooling system, which works similarly to a car’s radiator, allows the machine to work harder for longer without overheating. This is particularly important for commercial vehicles, where consistent performance throughout the day is crucial. For fleet operators and vehicle manufacturers, this translates to vehicles that can carry heavier loads, climb steeper hills, and operate in more demanding conditions without compromise.

Sample units will be trialled with select partners from March 2025, with full production scheduled to commence in Q4 2025. The launch represents a significant milestone in AEM’s mission to revolutionise electric motor technology and establish new standards for sustainable transportation.

*Please note the omittance of ‘S’ in the product name (formally HDSRM). This is a product line rebrand and also applies to AEM’s HDRM150 motor.

About AEM

Advanced Electric Machines’ vision is to design and build the world’s most sustainable EV motors for the global automotive and transport sectors. It utilises its expertise in materials, manufacturing and design to ensure its solutions are not only more sustainable, but also more efficient and cost-effective.

Based in the Northeast of England, Advanced Electric Machines Limited was founded in 2017, when it was spun out from Newcastle University’s world-class electric motor research team, led by AEM’s CEO, Dr James Widmer, and CTO, Dr Andy Steven.

AEM technologies are covered by 46 international patents protecting their unique motor designs and manufacturing processes around the world.

Contacts:

Advanced Electric Machines

John Edden, Torque Agency Group

jedden@torqueagencygroup.com | +44 (0) 7403 640 213

Euan Antona, Torque Agency Group

eantona@torqueagencygroup.com | +44 (0) 7702 334 887

Advanced Electric Machines addresses sustainability of EV motors with £23 million new investment

Posted on by development@outfly.io

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), a leader in sustainable motor manufacturing primarily for
the automotive industry, announces it has secured £23 million of new investment. The funding
will be used to scale up production capacity at its facility in the North East, deliver on ambitious
growth plans to establish a global sales footprint, and bolster R&D capabilities.

The Series A funding round was led by Legal & General Capital and Barclays Sustainable
Impact Capital with significant additional investment from Par Equity. Other investors included
Northstar Ventures, the Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 and Turquoise Capital LLP.

AEM’s motor technologies remove the need for polluting rare earth metals in electric vehicle
(EV) motors, the production and processing of which is concentrated in China. By eliminating
rare earth permanent magnets, costs as well as reliance on geographically concentrated supply
chains are reduced, and recyclability and environmental footprint of the motor is significantly
improved.

AEM’s advanced technology will enable leading passenger and commercial electric vehicle
manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact and dependence on critical supply chains,
without compromising on quality and performance. Historically, engineers have struggled to
match the performance of rare earth permanent magnet motors when attempting to develop
alternatives. AEM’s technology overcomes these challenges, while reducing the environmental
impact.

The investment will enable AEM to:

  • Scale up production capacity at its manufacturing facility in the North East, creating 40 new skilled green jobs in the next two years.
  • Establish a global sales and service footprint, accelerating the rollout of its innovative motor solutions. AEM’s HDSRM motor, designed for commercial vehicles, is already in production and in vehicles of customers across the UK, Europe, North America and APAC.
  • Accelerate the progress in the development of its SSRD motor for passenger vehicle segment. The SSRD has been developed with the support of Innovate UK, the Advanced Propulsion Centre and leading academic and automotive partners, including Bentley Motors.
  • Bolster R&D capabilities to bring its copper-free motor to production, which will further improve recyclability and move AEM closer to the goal of being the world’s most sustainable electric motor manufacturer.

Steven Poulter, Head of Principal Structuring and Investments at Barclays, will join the Board of
AEM.


Prof. James Widmer, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Electric Machines, said: “Today’s
funding announcement clears our path to sustainable growth for years to come. It is a vote of
confidence from the market in our vision, our technical capabilities and our mission to rid EV
motors of harmful and problematic materials. Everyone at AEM and our new partners are
excited for the role we are now able to play in making the electric vehicle sector truly
sustainable.”


John Bromley, Managing Director – Clean Energy Strategy & Investments at Legal and
General Capital, said: “Legal & General Capital invests in innovative businesses with the
potential to accelerate progress to a low-carbon economy. AEM’s technology provides a
sustainable, market-leading solution capable of eliminating the need for rare earth materials,
thereby reducing emissions and supply chain risk. The UK has a long and successful history in
cutting edge automotive technologies and by co-leading this investment, we are supporting
AEM to fulfil its potential to create skilled jobs and generate global export revenues.”


Steven Poulter, Head of Principal Structuring and Investments, Barclays, said: “AEM is
solving a fundamental constraint of the EV market – the reliance on rare earth metals for motors
– which causes significant cost and supply chain challenges. By producing motors that don’t
rely on these metals, AEM is able to remove the key barriers to the production and subsequent
adoption of EVs. We are excited to be supporting AEM on the next stage of its journey as it
expands into passenger vehicles, a growing market critical to the energy transition.”


Andrew Noble, Partner at Par Equity, said: “AEM has designed and built an electric
powertrain motor which is greener, faster and more efficient than the incumbent solutions,
resulting in significant market pull and potential for growth. It has all the ingredients of the type
of business Par Equity likes to back, and we’re excited to partner with AEM at this critical stage
as the company scales its team and capabilities to service a large and rapidly growing EV
market.”

Learn more about Advanced Electric Machines at: www.advancedelectricmachines.com


About AEM
Advanced Electric Machines’ vision is to design and build the world’s most sustainable EV
motors for the global automotive and transport sectors. It utilises its expertise in materials,
manufacturing and design to ensure its solutions are not only more sustainable, but also more
efficient and cost-effective.

Based in the North East of England, Advanced Electric Machines Limited was founded in 2017,
when it was spun out from Newcastle University’s world-class electric motor research team, led
by AEM’s CEO, Dr James Widmer, and CTO, Dr Andy Steven.
AEM technologies are covered by 46 international patents protecting their unique motor designs
and manufacturing processes around the world.

About Legal & General Capital 
Legal & General Capital (LGC) is Legal & General Group’s alternative asset platform, creating
assets for Legal & General Retirement and third-party clients in order to achieve improved risk-
adjusted returns for our shareholders.  LGC has built its capabilities in a range of alternative
sectors, including in residential property; specialist commercial real estate; clean energy;
alternative credit; and venture capital, which are all supported by long-term structural growth
drivers, meet a financing gap and respond to a scarcity of supply that is underpinned by
enduring societal needs. 
 
Its purpose is to invest society’s capital for society’s benefit. Investing in the real economy and
supporting the Group’s focus on climate and inclusive capitalism, LGC’s investments create
jobs, change lives and contribute towards a net zero carbon future. 
 
Legal & General has invested over £29bn in levelling-up regional economies, including through
major UK-wide regeneration schemes and has recently made a commitment to enable all its
new homes to operate at net zero carbon emissions from 2030. 

About Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital
As part of the firm’s broader commitments, Barclays will invest £500m of its own capital, led by
the Principal Investments team, in fast-growing, innovative, environmentally-focused companies
whose values are aligned with those of Barclays and which target the goals and timelines of the
Paris Agreement. Investments will be strategic to Barclays, its clients and the communities it
serves, with clear scalable propositions that deliver both environmental benefits and economic
returns. To find out more, click here.

About Par Equity
Par Equity is a leading venture capital firm, based in Edinburgh, investing in innovative
technology companies with high growth potential, in the North of the UK. Since it was founded
in 2008, Par Equity has invested over £160m across 77 companies, leveraging a further £268m
of capital from third party investors. Par Equity’s investment thesis is to combine the
professionalism and rigour of a venture capital manager with the skills and expertise of a broad
base of individual investors who can add value throughout the investment life cycle. This
investment approach has produced strong and consistent returns across 30 realisations to
date. 

Contacts:
Advanced Electric Machines
Alex Michaelides, Torque Agency Group
amichaelides@torqueagencygroup.com | +44 (0) 7802 865 732

Euan Antona, Torque Agency Group
eantona@torqueagencygroup.com | +44 (0) 7702 334 887

Barclays
Holly Brown, Climate Communications
holly.brown@barclays.com | +44 (0) 7881 355 625

Legal & General Capital
Eleanor Pinnegar
eleanor.pinnegar@group.landg.com | +44 (0) 7539 173 639

Par Equity
Charlotte Simpson, Words and Pixels
charlotte@wordsandpixels.co | +44 (0) 7531 525392

North East manufacturing – looking back and forward

Posted on by telliott

Advanced Electric Machines is proud to originate from and operate out of The North East of England. The North East is renowned for its rich history in manufacturing, and the region’s strong association with industry goes back many years. A whole host of prestigious companies set out their stall on the banks of the River Tyne and the River Wear, and these businesses had a reputation that spanned the entire globe. With this, the North East’s coal mining and shipyard industries became known far and wide across the world.

Stemming from as far back as the Middle Ages, the mining of coal allowed the North East to take advantage of the significant amount of iron that was found in the region to manufacture a variety of products, including anchors and tools. The Industrial Revolution laid the foundation for the area to become a hub of industry, with the worldwide demand for coal a driving force of innovation.

Such innovation was critical in the success of the region’s shipbuilding industry. Early shipbuilding achievements included building vessels for the King’s fleet in the 1200s, but the North East would eventually become the primary manufacturer of ships in Britain, which was itself the world’s largest producer of ships at the time.

Fast forward to the modern age, and while the coal mining and shipbuilding industries are no longer open for business, their memory evokes a sense of local pride. Mike O’Neill, Chief Operating Officer at Advanced Electric Machines, speaks particularly fondly of the North East’s manufacturing heritage.

Mike’s own family has a deep connection to the region’s manufacturing past. His grandfather and father worked on the area’s famous shipyards for William Doxford & Sons, where he helped to build ship engines that would be sold around the world. Mike’s mother also worked in manufacturing in the North East, making deflection coils that would be used in contemporary televisions for Philips Components. It should come as no surprise, then, that Mike would go on to help lead Advanced Electric Machines’ efforts to supply sustainable electric motors across the globe.

The path that Mike has taken, in having a pivotal role in the first five years of Advanced Electric Machines’ journey, has come from his “passion to establish a North East homegrown manufacturing business and put it on the map.”

This passion has been inspired by some of the North East’s most innovative industrialists – Mike is even able to reel off a list of the names of local manufacturing icons, such as George Stephenson (who built the first locomotive to haul coal in 1814), Joseph Swann (who developed the first incandescent light bulbs to illuminate homes and public buildings in 1881), and William Armstrong (a renowned visionary inventor and engineer who built the world’s first home to be powered by hydroelectricity in 1869).

Does the current manufacturing landscape live up to what the past had to offer in the North East? In Mike’s eyes, the innovation of the region is getting stronger all the time, with continuous investment facilitating a greater offering. One such example is car manufacturer Nissan, which is demonstrating its confidence in the North East by investing in its European manufacturing facility in Sunderland. This has brought tier one automotive suppliers to the region to supply Nissan, which has and created a hub of supporting businesses that have become a huge source of employment to the region.

Perhaps all that is missing in the North East right now are large homegrown manufacturers. While there is an abundance of smaller homegrown businesses, the bigger manufacturers in the region are predominantly established elsewhere in the world. Mike’s ambition is for Advanced Electric Machines to fill the void and employ people that are local to the area.

Advanced Electric Machines is determined to contribute back to the North East. Mike commented: “Although we’re manufacturing new innovative products with new technology, we don’t just want to look after our own business; we want to do everything we can to share the success of Advanced Electric Machines with the community. We want to serve as a local employer with local employees that are more than just a number, as was the case with the working communities established by our iconic manufacturing predecessors.”

As for what the future holds, the North East is certainly in a good place. Local councils have been investing heavily to support business development and new infrastructure, which will nurture local innovation, as well as attract existing businesses to the region. Automotive electrification in particular seems to have developed the manufacturing landscape in the area, with Advanced Electric Machines one of several local businesses pushing for greater sustainability. Mike’s belief is that, “the combined strength of automotive manufacturers of all kinds will stand the North East in good stead to continue to be a hugely successful manufacturing region.”

Alistair Druce – Product Development Engineer, AEM

Posted on by telliott

Q: How long have you worked at Advanced Electric Machines?

AD: I’ve been working here for about five years now, so I’m a bit of an old hat!

Q: Can you tell us about your job role?

AD: My role is within the product development department. On a day-to-day basis, I am responsible for making sure our electric motors achieve maximum performance and efficiencies during operation, and at different voltages and temperatures.

Q: What is your proudest professional achievement since you’ve been here?

AD: My proudest professional achievement is winding the first coils for HDSRM and following that through to make our very first HDSRM motor. We’re now making the latest developments to try to continuously improve the product, which has been a massive privilege.

Q: What excites you about working at AEM?

AD: AEM offers the team quite a rapid career growth with lots of opportunities to work across different sectors, particularly in automotive, aerospace and industrial applications. That’s a lot of range!

Q: What is the biggest challenge facing PEMD, and how is Advanced Electric Machines helping?

AD: I think there’s a lot of greenwashing going on in the sector in general. In particular, I would say that there’s a lot of cloudiness over what is actually green and sustainable, with too much misinformation out there. Unfortunately, trying to cut through that is quite difficult.

Advanced Electric Machines has made a product that is fundamentally better. It’s got no permanent magnets in there, there is significantly less pollution that comes from the other materials we use, and we are developing solutions that are actually recyclable. The product is more circular in itself and it will only get better.

Q: Why do you think PhDs should choose to work here?

AD: PhDs should choose to work at AEM because of the technical development that we undertake for each of our projects. With this comes various research opportunities, which look into different technologies both in the motor and the power electronics that control them.

Q: How does AEM support your professional development, and what opportunities does the company provide to support your growth?

AD: AEM has supported me throughout my entire career. When I first started here, I was winding coils and doing a little bit of electromagnetic work. Since then, I’ve made motors, I’ve tested them, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with every department within the business. This was a huge step in the right direction for me, and I am so grateful for these opportunities. I’ve now found my niche and I know where my skill set is best suited, and I’m thrilled to be a part of a company that supports its staff.

Q: What impact do you feel your contribution makes to Advanced Electric Machines?

AD: I think that my contribution enables our products to perform at the highest possible level. We employ a process that ensures that I am constantly monitoring ways in which to improve our offering, allowing it to be competitive with the market.

On a personal level, I love being able to work on a genuinely sustainable product. It fills me with pride to know that I’m contributing to the wider environment.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your recent work with Tevva?

AD: Part of my role as a product development engineer is to offer technical support to our customers. In our work with Tevva, we worked on their electric truck project. My responsibility was to collaborate with them to help their truck pass its roadworthiness tests, which, of course, they did!


Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
AD: The bit I enjoy most about my job is being able to follow a product from the very beginning – the design phase – through to its manufacture, and then actually testing it to see if it matches the modelling. From this point, we follow the product, undertaking iterative testing as a means of improving it.

It’s really satisfying to see something transform from being a mere idea to actually taking shape in the flesh, and then taking certain steps to make it even better than it was.

Q: What would you say are the values at AEM?

AD: Without doubt, what sets AEM apart in my mind is its values of sustainability, performance, and growth. In the modern world, it’s essential that businesses take the right steps to being sustainable, and Advanced Electric Machines doesn’t just achieve that for itself, it helps other businesses achieve greater sustainability. The exceptional products and services that we offer demonstrate our commitment to high performance, and our ambitions to build the world’s most sustainable electric motors.

Why you shouldn’t underestimate England’s North East

Posted on by telliott

We’re proud of our roots in here in the North East. Many people naturally assume that metropolises such as London, Birmingham and Manchester play host to the UK’s latest and greatest technological advances. But that’s not always the case. While its growth may have gone unnoticed by some, the North East is now rapidly gaining recognition as a hotbed of innovation.

Don’t just take our word for it. Earlier this year, Newcastle secured the fourth spot in the fDi Intelligence Top 10 mid-sized European cities of the future 2022/23 ranking. This was the outcome of their study to benchmark promising investment destinations across the continent. A report by the Department for International Trade has also revealed that the North East created more jobs than any region in the UK outside of London in 2021-22.   

For us, this result is hardly a surprise. The region has long been associated with pioneering ideas. From the first passenger carrying steam locomotive ‘Rocket’ and the earliest use of hydroelectric power, to the invention of the incandescent lightbulb and the steam turbine. But it seems that the North East’s close connection with mining and its well-publicised decline has fuelled an inaccurate, decades long stereotype that the area is in degeneration.    

It’s an exciting time to be part of the North East’s economy. It is becoming more and more apparent that the North East is the UK’s and the wider world’s hub for electrification. Nissan – a pioneer of the mass-produced EV with its Leaf – started the trend with its long-rooted presence in Sunderland. Now BritishVolt and Envision AESC are set to build the UK’s first two electric battery gigafactories in the region.  An increasing number of electrification technology SMEs are choosing the North East as their home, and we have the likes of the North East Automotive Alliance and the UK-wide DER-IC helping to promote and support sustainable supply chain growth. 

Advanced Electric Machines has a lot to thank the North East for. Our journey began with our Chief Executive Officer, Dr James Widmer, completing his PhD at Newcastle University. It was while working together with Dr Andy Steven from the university that James began to research and develop rare earth-free electric motors. In March 2017, Advanced Electric Machines was spun out as a stand-alone company and with the support of locally based experts, such as our Chief Operating Officer, Mike O’Neill, we’ve been able to grow and expand our presence in Tyne and Wear.

Our first production facility was opened in Blaydon, just a few miles outside the centre of Newcastle. We’re now based in Washington, a town roughly halfway between Newcastle and Sunderland. From here we employ a growing skilled and talented team, most of whom are based in and around the area.

There’s no question that the North East is on a positive trajectory, and we’re delighted to play our part.  

Our People

Posted on by telliott

We are extremely fortunate at Advanced Electric Machines to have an incredibly talented and hardworking group of people on board. The people in our team are exceptional, and bringing them in has been a key aim of our recruitment strategy since the company’s inception. It is our goal to create a workplace where our people can apply their talent, creativity and passion to help us produce the most sustainable electric motors in the world.

Over the last few years, we have been working hard behind the scenes to adopt a strategic recruitment policy that has centred around bringing in the right people. In September 2020, we took on our first apprentice, George Cram, who was delighted to be given the opportunity to study at Sunderland College and work alongside top class engineers. The engineering department has steadily grown, with university graduates coming from across the country to play their role in our history. Caspar Tatham is one such graduate, who joined the business as a Graduate Mechanical Design Engineer and cited our drive towards sustainability as the decisive factor in his decision to come on board.

With the company only having burst into existence just over five years ago, our team is still growing. In 2020, the size of our team grew dramatically, doubling from 16 to 32 people, while now we’re at more than 50. Every single member of the Advanced Electric Machines team is carefully picked, with no stone going unturned in the pursuit of a harmonious and resourceful workforce.

One of our key appointments over the years was Claire Burgess, who joined the team as the Chief Financial Officer in January 2021. Claire’s role is to drive the growth of the business, focusing on financial investment to propel our rare earth free electric motors into the global market. As with many of our new starters, Claire pointed out the “game-changing” nature of our “fully green and recyclable” offering as a huge pull to the company. For us, it is essential to have a team that are truly passionate about making the right changes in our industry.

Alongside Claire, we have brought in a number of other senior members of staff recently. For example, Mark Johnson was appointed to the role of Power Electronics Director. Mark is an internationally recognised expert in the field of power electronics and he is on-hand to support us in the provision of the most sustainable electric motors worldwide. Also new to the team is Lee Woodcraft – Special Projects and Aftersales Director – who will be an integral part of our efforts to drive the forward planning of the business on an international level. Steve Simmonds has also become an integral part of our engineering team since joining us last year as Product Development Director, Steve is responsible for leading all of our customer and partner projects.

Our progress as a business is also reflected in the growth of our exceptional production team. The team is led by Richy Bruce, and has grown from consisting of three members to a strong unit people over the last 12 months. This progress has seen the team go from building single prototypes a week to now building increasing volumes every single week to meet the ever-growing demand from our customers.

We are delighted with the team that we have in place. Every single member of staff has a crucial role to play in our journey, and we’re passionate about bringing in the right people to continue to take us forward.

AEM Leads Project To Establish UK Supply Chain For EV Drivetrains

Posted on by telliott
  • AEM to lead Coil to Core: Supply Chain for Net Zero CO2 (COCO2) project
  • The COCO2 project will aim to establish a PEMD supply chain in the UK
  • The company’s involvement in the initiative demonstrates its commitment to achieving key industrial and environmental goals

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) will lead the Coil to Core: Supply Chain for Net Zero CO2 (COCO2) project. The project, which will run from January 2022 to January 2025, will seek to develop a Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) supply chain in the UK.

The newly established supply chain will develop cost-effective material supply and manufacturing of new high strength steels using innovative mass production processes. This will deliver patented lamination designs that can be stacked into novel rotor and stator sub-assemblies, allowing the mass production of more efficient and sustainable electric machines. These machines can be used across a wide range of applications in the transport, energy, and industrial sectors.

Throughout the project, AEM will be working alongside partnering organisations such as Tata Steel, the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), and Coventry University. The project is funded by the Driving the Electric Revolution challenge at UK Research and Innovation.The project team’s goal is to establish a supply chain with a clear end-to-end route to market for electric vehicle drivetrains. To ensure the supply chain is both attractive to the market and profitable, the team will also undertake production costing and value chain analysis.

The COCO2 project is a clear demonstration of AEM’s commitment to achieving key industrial and environmental goals within the UK. Among these is a pledge to support innovation by developing a versatile range of materials, processes, and sub-assemblies. This innovation will produce the basis of more efficient and more sustainable electric machines that exclude the use of rare earth materials and copper.

In accordance with the UK’s drive towards net zero, sustainable routes to electric motor production will be established throughout the project. This, coupled with the development of sustainable electrification solutions, ensures that the initiative falls in line with the Government’s target of achieving a green industrial revolution in the transport, energy and industrial sectors.

James Widmer, CEO of AEM, said: “The growth in the electric vehicle market in recent years has shone a light on the need to bolster the electric vehicle driveline supply chain. The Coil to Core: Supply Chain for Net Zero CO2 project will see AEM and our partners establish a clear path for the mass production of efficient and sustainable electric machines. As a result, the transport, energy and industrial sectors will have an array of more environmentally viable options at their disposal.”

AEM to show EV motors need not cost the earth at COP26

Posted on by telliott
  • AEM’s event at COP26 on 10 November will explore how EV motors can be produced and recycled sustainably
  • Most EV motors currently use rare earth metals, obtained through a mining process that is harmful to the environment
  • ‘Novel Electrification through Advanced Sustainable Technologies’ event to include speakers from AEM, the University of Nottingham, Hypromag and Tevva.

1 October 2021 Press Release

Sustainable EV motor manufacturer, Advanced Electric Machines (AEM), will set out why the production of electric vehicles (EV) motors doesn’t need to be harmful to the environment, as it takes to the stage at COP26. At 15:00 on 10 November in the Green Zone, AEM’s event, titled ‘Novel Electrification through Advanced Sustainable Technologies’ will look at why today’s EV motors are so problematic, and what can be done to ensure that the next generation of components allow EVs to be genuinely sustainable.

AEM’s CEO, Professor James Widmer, and Chairman, Peter Fleet, will be joined at COP26 by an impressive panel of speakers, who will each give their own perspective on how EV motors can be made more sustainable. These include Professor Mark Johnson, Director of the EPSRC Centre for Power Electronics at the University of Nottingham, Professor Allan Walton, Founding Director of Hypromag, and David Thackray, Sales and Marketing Director at Tevva.

Currently, the vast majority of EVs in production are driven by a permanent magnet motor (PMM), which contains rare earth metals. The mining of these materials is highly damaging, with the extraction of one tonne of rare earth metal creating 1.4 tonnes of radioactive waste and 27.6 tonnes of CO2.

The speakers at AEM’s COP26 event have all developed ways to reduce or eliminate rare earth mining from the EV motor supply chain, either by developing pioneering motor technology or incorporating it into their products.

AEM’s patented motor technology achieves higher levels of performance and efficiency than equivalent permanent magnet motors, without using rare earth metals. It has also eliminated the need to use copper in its motors, making them easier to recycle than conventional motors.

Further information about the ‘Novel Electrification through Advanced Sustainable Technologies’ event will be announced via AEM’s website and social media channels in the coming weeks.

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Alex Juggins, Torque Agency Group

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