India’s EV startups develops rare earth-free motors amid China’s export curbs | Tech News

By Pune Media On Jun 16, 2025

Tech News

India’s EV industry is rapidly innovating to develop rare earth-free motors amid China’s export restrictions on critical materials. Startups like Chara Technologies and Numerous Motors, along with institutions like VNIT, are creating cost-effective, sustainable alternatives.

These efforts aim to reduce reliance on China and build a secure, local supply chain for the future of electric mobility.

New Delhi: As China controls the supply of rare earth magnets, the electric vehicle (EV) industry in India is countering the trend by conceptualising innovation. New technologies in EV motors are being developed by homegrown startups and research institutes and do not require rare earth materials, rendering them more sustainable, cost-effective, and geopolitically safe.

Chara Technologies, a Bengaluru-based company, is pioneering this effort by making motors with ferrite magnets, and others such as Numeros Motors and Sterling Gtake E-Mobility are also looking into a magnet-free approach altogether. These are attempts to protect the emerging EV industry in India against the strategic control of important raw materials by China.

Bengaluru-based Chara Technologies (@chara_tech ) has developed Rare-earth free Permanent magnet motors. pic.twitter.com/YrfvrmIotj
— Frontliner (@FrontlinerUV) June 15, 2025

Chara’s Ferrite solution gains traction

Bhakta Keshavachar, the founder of Chara Technologies, has recently talked with officials in the Ministry of Heavy Industries in Delhi about long-term solutions. Chara claims that its rare earth-free motors employ ferrite magnets, which are more common than rare earth magnets in such forms as fridge magnets, providing a much lower-cost alternative. These motors are very close to conventional motors in terms of torque, power and efficiency, although slightly heavier.

As magnet prices are climbing sky-high, rare-earth magnets priced at Rs 6,000/kg compared to Rs 400/kg ferrite, the Chara strategy is coming into focus. The firm is shipping about 150 motors a month, which are fitted in three-wheelers in India and overseas.

Numeros and IIT Bhubaneswar explore magnet-free designs

Numeros Motors is going in a different direction – attempting to do away with magnets. In April, it collaborated with IIT Bhubaneswar on a two-year study to design non-magnet motor topologies. By doing this successfully, the outcome may be a fully indigenous, low-cost motor manufactured with all Indian raw material.

This is an important strength that Chetan Kumar, Associate VP at Numeros, is aware of. He said, ‘We will no longer be dependent on rare earth magnets, and we will own the entire supply chain in India.’ This is also a sustainable alternative to rare earth mining due to the environmental concerns.

VNIT’s rare earth-free motor targets mass adoption

A revolutionary step has been taken by the researchers of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), who have developed a rare earth-free synchronous motor that can save up to 25 per cent of the cost. The motor has a special structure, different materials and improved heat management to avoid overheating.

The project is endorsed by a multidisciplinary team and sponsored by the Delhi-based start-up Tsuyo, which will assist the design in commercialisation. This technology may lead to mass adoption of EVs, both passenger and commercial.

Sterling Tools partners with the UK’s AEM

Sterling Tools, a giant auto component manufacturer, has joined the race via its EV division, Sterling Gtake E-Mobility. In May, it licensed the UK-based Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) to introduce their patented rare earth-free motors in India. The design of AEM substitutes rare earth magnets with electrical steel and aluminium.

The companies were able to reduce the cost of the motor to fit the market demands in India after five years of negotiation. Sterling is also establishing a local supply chain of the components and is anticipating beginning deliveries within six months following stringent testing and certification.

Industry leaders are of the opinion that the government of India must put more than just mining support to promote rare earth-free technologies. The innovations will not only help lower the import dependency but also make India one of the leaders in clean mobility hardware as the global demand for EVs grows.

Pragya is a Science and Technology reporter, has Master degree in Journalism, covering a range of stories including space, gadgets and how tech is transforming our lives. She has 4+ years of industry experience in Digital Media and Content Writing.
15+ years of practice in yoga philosophy to every day, and that’s one way she strive to build meaningful experiences.

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