The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it will invest $25 million in 13 projects to advance high-efficiency electric motor technology, of which the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Next-Generation Electric Motors project will address the limitations of traditional materials and new designs will improve Motor efficiency, performance, and reducing their weight.

In one of these projects, GE will develop a new type of insulating material that can help triple the voltage endurance of motors, while advanced silicon carbide drives reduce energy use by 5-10%. In another project, California-based automotive developer NovaTorque will develop an engine that does not use rare earth magnets, fabricated directly from soft magnetic composites and grains, in an innovative tapered air gap structure. The project aims to increase the efficiency of the 5kW electric motor by 92% to over 96%. Other technology projects include: wide-bandgap semiconductor devices; advanced magnetic materials; radical cooling techniques; and improved conductor techniques. Recent projects will also further explore nanomaterials, high silicon steel manufacturing processes, and high temperature superconductors.
In the US manufacturing industry, 70% of the power loss comes from the operation of industrial motors, and this part of the energy accounts for a quarter of the entire US electricity consumption.