With the rapid advancement of information technology, countries worldwide have successively entered stages of technological development and widespread adoption in industrial automation, office automation, home modernization, agricultural modernization, and the modernization of military equipment and weaponry. As a critical foundational component in these technologies and systems, the demand for permanent magnet motors continues to grow, market space expands year by year, and the industry demonstrates strong development momentum.
For example, Japan has conducted extensive research and development in areas such as high efficiency, quiet operation, and high-performance industrial servo applications for permanent magnet motors. Consequently, it holds significant technological advantages. The micro-motor equipment produced in Japan boasts competitive strengths including high control precision, low power consumption, long service life, low cost, and compact size. Leading the world in technology, Japan dominates the global market for high-end permanent magnet motors.
Currently, major Japanese permanent magnet motor manufacturers include Nidec Corporation, ASMO Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Denso), Denso Corporation, and Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
However, the development of the permanent magnet motor industry in the United States primarily focuses on military micro-motors. The U.S. leads the world in the research, development, and product standards for military micro-motors, with its major suppliers providing the vast majority of micro-motors used in Western military equipment and electronic devices. U.S. military standards for micro-motors have become the international benchmark.
Furthermore, due to the gradual diffusion and transfer of technology to developing countries, emerging economies represented by China also hold a significant position in the global permanent magnet motor sector. According to statistics from the Electrical Machinery Industry Association, China’s permanent magnet motor output exceeded 10 million kilowatts for the first time in 2017, reaching 11.071 million kilowatts, establishing the country as a major global producer.
The Trend Toward Motor Permanent Magnetization Will Continue
Firstly, permanent magnet motors offer advantages such as high efficiency, high specific power, high power factor, high reliability, and ease of maintenance. Utilizing vector-controlled variable frequency speed regulation systems can provide permanent magnet motors with a wide speed range. Therefore, the adoption of permanent magnetization has become a crucial development direction in motor drive technology.
Especially in electric vehicle motor drive technology, constrained by vehicle space and usage environment, motor drive systems for electric vehicles differ from general electric drive systems. They demand higher performance, higher power/weight density, and tolerance for higher ambient temperatures. The power electronics and motor technologies used in conventional motor drives no longer meet these requirements. Thus, permanent magnetization is set to become a key development direction for future automotive motors. According to statistics from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), in December 2018, over 160,000 motors were installed in new energy passenger vehicles in China, with permanent magnet synchronous motors accounting for a dominant 92.3%.
Secondly, with improvements in permanent magnet material performance, advancements in manufacturing processes, and the development of modern control technologies, the application of permanent magnet motors will deepen further across industrial and agricultural production, household appliances, medical equipment, aerospace, maritime, military, and other fields, demonstrating robust vitality.
Finally, driven by growing awareness of electricity conservation and environmental protection, permanent magnet motors applied in energy-saving and environmental protection sectors are expected to see substantial growth. It is foreseeable that the advent of a low-carbon economy presents growth opportunities for permanent magnet motors, with ultra-high efficiency permanent magnet motors and speed-regulated high-efficiency permanent magnet motors playing significant roles in energy conservation and emission reduction efforts.
