A world-leading team of UK engineers has been charged with developing a new motor for electric vehicles that will significantly reduce our future dependency on rare earth metals.

Sevcon, Cummins Generator Technologies and Newcastle University have been awarded £518,000 by the UK's Technology Strategy Board to develop a novel electric motor for hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles.

Unlike the current EV motors which rely on rare earth metals such as Neodymium and Dysprosium, the new motors will replace these rare earth metals with steel.

Steel is not only cheaper and less damaging to the environment, but also much more widely available - a key factor if we are to meet the expected rise in demand for hybrid and electric vehicles.

James Widmer, of Newcastle University's Centre for Advanced Electrical Drives, explained: "The pressure on supplies of rare-earth metals coupled with rising demand for this technology means the pressure is on to find an alternative.

“In addition to this, extracting these rare minerals can be incredibly destructive to the environment.

“If we are to pursue electric and hybrid vehicles as a truly greener option then we need to look not only at the fuel but also the materials we are using to develop the various components.

“Newcastle University, Sevcon and Cummins are in an excellent position to deliver this world class technology. Between us we are leaders in the development of new electric motor technologies, the supply of the electronics which drive the new electric vehicles and the manufacture of engines for many of the world's commercial vehicles."

Rare earth metals are a range of minerals which have become increasingly important in the delivery of new and sustainable technologies ranging from electric vehicles to solar panels. However their success in these applications is now raising worldwide concern about the supply and environmental impact of mining these materials.

The market for electric cars and commercial vehicles is expected to grow five fold over the next decade from less than 2 million EV's sold in 2010 to an estimated 49 million by 2020. But this $180 billion-industry will be held back unless alternatives can be found for the metals currently used to drive the engines.

Grant funding of £518,000 was awarded by the Technology Strategy Board following the consortium's success in the 'Highly Innovative Strategic Technologies in Low Carbon Vehicles' competition for collaborative research and development funding.