Bentley to recycle rare earth magnets for motors

UK carmaker Bentley Motors is launching a three-year study aimed at developing a sustainable source of recycled rare earth magnets for electric and hybrid vehicles.

The study is being carried out in collaboration with several organisations including UK funding agency Innovate UK, the University of Birmingham, Hypromag, Unipart Powertrain Applications, Advanced Electric Machines and Intelligent Lifecycle Solutions. It is hoped that the resulting neodymium iron boron magnets (NdFeB) will be produced with a lower embedded carbon cost than using virgin raw materials.

"As we accelerate our journey to electrification, offering only hybrid or electric vehicles by 2026, and full electric by 2030, it is important that we focus on every aspect of vehicle sustainability, including sustainable methods of sourcing materials and components," Bentley member of the board for engineering Matthias Rabe said.

Concerns about the security and environmental footprint of rare earth supply chains have often been overshadowed by carmakers' concerns about getting enough batteries to enable a shift to electric vehicles (EVs). But rare earth magnets are a crucial piece of the puzzle with EV uptake due to drive a significant increase in demand for light rare earths neodymium and praseodymium and heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium.

"Rare earth magnets are found in almost every appliance that uses electricity to generate motion. In the last 30 years their use has increased exponentially, and although they are increasingly important in the transition to a low-carbon economy, less than 1pc of these magnets is recycled," the University of Birmingham said.

"Recycling will play a key role in the development of robust supply chains to catalyse growth in the electric vehicle sector and in other clean technologies," Canada-based Mkango chief executive William Dawes said. Mkango holds a 25pc interest in Hypromag and is developing the Songwe Hill light rare earth mining project in Malawi.

By Ellie Saklatvala and Caroline Messecar