It’s common knowledge that electric cars have a weight problem. On average, they’re around 30% heavier than their combustion-engined equivalents, a burden that’s mainly down to the batteries. Manufacturers are working hard to eliminate this issue through developments like solid-state cells, new battery technologies, and more efficient packaging.
What’s less well-known is that there’s an equally furious battle going on to reduce the weight of the electric motors that turn the batteries’ energy into motion. Every part of the motor is being slimmed down. Rotor and stator laminations made out of steel sheets can be replaced by lighter and cheaper soft magnetic compounds produced by injection moulding.
