When you're driving a quiet yet powerful new energy vehicle and gracefully overtake a fuel-powered car at the moment the green light turns on, have you ever wondered that the core of this surging power lies behind some rather "rustic" names? They are rare earths.
They are not ordinary soil, but a collective term for 17 kinds of metal elements, each being a "vitamin" and "magic powder" for modern industry. Today, let's lift the hood of a new energy vehicle and see exactly where these "magic powders" are and what kind of alchemy they perform.
Magic Spell One: The "Perpetual Motion" Core of the Power Heart - Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor
The most fundamental difference between new energy vehicles and fuel vehicles lies in the fact that the "heart" has changed from an engine to a motor. Currently, the vast majority of high-performance electric vehicles on the market, such as Tesla Model 3/Y and BYD Han, all choose to use permanent magnet synchronous motors. Here, the "permanent magnet" is where the magic of rare earths comes into play.
Imagine the interior of a motor: the core component is a high-speed rotating rotor. To make the rotor spin, a strong magnetic field needs to be generated using magnets. If ordinary magnets are used, it's like trying to attract a large iron block with a small magnet, which is both laborious and has limited magnetic force.
However, when elements like neodymium and praseodymium from the rare earth family are added to create neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets, the situation is completely different. It is currently the strongest permanent magnet discovered by humans and is known as the "Magnetic King".
How strong is it? Under the same volume, the magnetic energy product of neodymium-iron-boron magnets is more than ten times that of ordinary ferrite magnets! This is like giving the motor's rotor a "Superman suit", allowing it to generate an extremely powerful magnetic field with an extremely small volume and weight.
· What benefits does it bring?
1. Strong power, quick response: A powerful magnetic field means greater torque, which is why electric vehicles start and accelerate so rapidly, and the sense of acceleration comes on instantly.
2. Compact design, high efficiency: Due to the strong magnetic force, the motor can be made very compact, saving more space for the battery or the passenger cabin in the vehicle. At the same time, its energy conversion efficiency is extremely high, usually exceeding 95%, far exceeding the 40% of fuel engines, which means less electrical energy is wasted as heat and is directly converted into the driving range.
3. Quiet and Smooth: Without the rumbling and vibration of the engine, the motor operates extremely quietly, enhancing the driving experience.
It can be said that without rare earth permanent magnet materials, it would be difficult to have such an efficient, powerful and compact new energy vehicle motor as we have today. It is the "soul" of the power heart of electric vehicles.
Magic 2: The "Longevity Enhancement" Secret of the Energy Repository - Power Batteries
Having talked about the power heart, let's now take a look at the energy repository - batteries. Rare earths play the role of "backstage heroes" here. Although their usage is not large, their effects are crucial.
In the positive electrode materials of ternary lithium batteries, adding trace amounts of rare earth elements, such as lanthanum and cerium, can act as "stabilizers" and "improvers".
· Enhance Lifespan: During the repeated charging and discharging process of the battery, its internal structure will gradually collapse, leading to a decrease in capacity. The addition of rare earth elements is like adding "reinforcing ribs" to the battery's framework, effectively stabilizing the crystal structure and slowing down the aging process, thereby extending the battery's service life.
· Improve Safety: Rare earth elements can also enhance the thermal stability of the positive electrode materials, making the battery more "calm" in extreme conditions such as high temperatures, reducing the risk of thermal runaway, and providing an additional layer of safety.
So, although rare earths do not directly provide electrical energy, they are like a meticulous "battery caretaker", silently safeguarding the health and safety of the battery, allowing your car to run longer and more safely.
Magic 3: The "Invisible" Driving Force of Lightweighting and Intelligence
An excellent electric vehicle should not only be fast and have a long range, but also be smart and energy-efficient. Rare earths have played a significant role in these two aspects.
· Lightweighting of the vehicle body: Adding rare earths to lightweight materials such as aluminum and magnesium can significantly improve their processing performance and strength. This allows vehicle components to become lighter while still being sturdy and reliable. Every slight reduction in vehicle weight contributes positively to improving the range.
· Electronic control system: The numerous sensors, micro-motors, speakers, and other electronic components on the vehicle all rely on small rare earth magnets and rare earth elements. They are the foundation for implementing various intelligent driving assistance functions and providing high-quality audio and video experiences.
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