India’s First Rare-Earth-Free EV Motor Unveiled by Simple Energy

 

A Breakthrough in Motor Technology

Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler startup Simple Energy has announced a major milestone in India’s EV industry: it has become the first OEM in the country to commercially produce electric motors that do not use heavy rare-earth elements.   This is a landmark development, as the traditional reliance on rare-earth magnets in EV motors has presented both supply-chain vulnerabilities and high costs.

 

What Are Rare‐Earth Elements & Why They Matter

Rare-earth elements (REEs) such as neodymium and dysprosium are used in high-torque, compact electric motors because of their magnetic properties. However, the majority of global supply (and processing) of these materials is controlled by China. In April 2025, China imposed export restrictions on some critical rare-earth materials, which severely impacted automakers and EV manufacturers worldwide.   The dependence on Chinese imports created a strategic risk for India’s EV supply chain   which Simple Energy’s new motor technology directly addresses.

 

The Technology: Rare-Earth-Free Motor Architecture

Simple Energy’s innovation is grounded in an entirely in-house developed motor architecture. Instead of heavy rare‐earth magnets, the motor uses “optimized compound” materials combined with proprietary algorithms that manage heat and torque delivery in real time.   The company claims that the performance (in terms of torque and efficiency) is comparable to conventional motors that use rare-earth magnets.  

The manufacturing facility is located in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, spanning about 200,000 sq ft. The company further claims ~95 % localisation across its manufacturing and supply-chain operations.  

 

Strategic Implications for India & EV Industry

This development has multiple strategic implications:

Supply-Chain Resilience – By eliminating dependence on heavy rare-earth materials and thus on imported magnets, Simple Energy mitigates risks from export curbs or geopolitical disruptions.  

Cost Reduction & Localisation – Local manufacturing of motors using alternate materials may reduce import costs and enable more affordable EVs for Indian consumers.

Sustainability & ‘Make in India’-Push – The move aligns with India’s ambition to localise EV manufacturing, reduce import dependence, and strengthen domestic technology capabilities.  

Competitive Advantage – In a competitive EV market, motors with innovative materials and full localisation may position Simple Energy favourably.

 

Implementation & Product Impact

Simple Energy plans to use the new motors in its existing scooter models such as the “Simple ONE Gen 1.5” (claimed range ~248 km) and “Simple One S” (~181 km).   The fact that these motors are already in commercial production   rather than just being prototypes   underscores the company’s pace and maturity.  

According to the company’s co-founder & CEO, Suhas Rajkumar, “Global supply-chain disruptions and material dependencies have made one thing clear: the future of electric mobility must be built on self-reliance.”  

 

Challenges & Future Outlook

While the development is promising, some challenges remain:

Although performance claims are strong, wide-scale durability, real-world testing under varied conditions, and long-term reliability must still be proven.

The cost-benefit trade-offs of the alternate materials and their supply-chain stability need monitoring.

Scale-up of manufacturing, and matching demand across vehicles and variants, will be key.

Competing EV manufacturers (domestic or global) may accelerate their own rare-earth-free strategies, raising competitive pressures.

Nonetheless, the future outlook is positive: implementing such technology could reduce the price of EVs, expand localisation, and strengthen India’s position in EV manufacturing globally.

 

Conclusion

Simple Energy’s commercial manufacturing of rare-earth-free motors marks a significant milestone for India’s EV industry. By combining innovation, localisation and strategic independence, the company is showing that high-performance EV components can be developed domestically without reliance on geopolitically vulnerable materials. As EV adoption grows in India, this breakthrough could help drive more affordable, sustainable, and self-reliant mobility solutions   not just for India, but potentially for export markets too.