Magnetic Circuits for Automobiles

Hybrid cars use an electric motor to assist the engine during start-off and acceleration. Fuel cell cars and electric cars are driven by the electric motor alone. Cars that are equipped with a generator, use that generator to recharge the battery as required, even while the car is traveling. During braking, either the electric motor or the generator generates braking force through electric generation load and stores the power thus generated back into the battery for use when the car starts out again, which improves the fuel economy. These motors require compact size, high output, and the ability to stand up to heat, so they use rare earth magnets.Back to Top

Normal car air conditioners are driven by the rotation force of the engine, but this causes energy loss during traveling and also the engine can not drive the air conditioner when idling or stopped. An electric car air conditioner can be driven regardless of the drive force from the engine and minimizes power loss and can also be run even while the engine is idling or stopped, so it provides both environmental performance and comfort. Rare earth magnets are used in the electric motors to drive such electric car air conditioners.Back to Top

These motors assist steering operations. Because power steering until now has been hydraulic, it drained power from the engine even when no steering operation was underway. By converting the power steering to electric, energy consumption when the power steering is not in operation is reduced, which improves the fuel economy. Also, eliminating the hydraulic pipes improves the car's space efficiency. The use of rare earth magnets in these compact, high output motors is expanding.Back to Top

Until now, most power assist devices in cars were driven hydraulically, but these systems are being converted to electricity (by-wire systems) for the sake of lower weight and simplification. Electric brakes include those that drive disk brake calipers electrically and those that obtain braking force from generators installed on the car axes. The latter are regenerative brakes that store electrical power in the battery for reuse. Compact, powerful rare earth magnets are used in the actuators and electrical generators for such brakes.Back to Top

Coolant system, hydraulic system, fuel system. Various fluids flow within an automobile. The normal way to drive the pumps that circulate these fluids is to split off part of the power of the engine rotation using belts, but for the sake of smaller size and improved fuel economy, the conversion of these systems to electric motor drive is moving forward. The rare earth magnets used in these electric pumping systems require high output together with high resistance to corrosion and high capacity to withstand heat.Back to Top

The conversion to electric auxiliary devices will advance for the sake of safety and comfort. In order to supply stable electric power, the starter motor that starts the engine and the alternator that generates electricity are combined into one unit aiming for higher power output and higher efficiency. This is the starter generator. Starter generators using rare earth magnets are compact and high capacity and can make systems more efficient and improve fuel economy.Back to Top

The requirements for automotive safety and comfort are becoming more and more demanding. Meeting these demands requires sensors to detect rotation, angle, and position. Sensors using rare earth magnets are compact and accurate and are helping raise the reliability of cars even as those cars become more complex.Back to Top

Collision prevention and automatic tailing systems are one system for assisting car drivers. Inter-vehicular distance sensors using rare earth magnets are compact and provide high output, so they make possible stable system operation and high reliability.Back to Top

Seat belts and air bags protect the lives of those riding in the car. No matter how advanced a safety device may be, unless it is used correctly, it is just a waste. Seat belt sensors that use rare earth magnets provide are compact and light-weight and provide accurate sensing so that passenger safety can be protected by notifying the driver if any seat belt is not being worn correctly.Back to Top

Car audio to create personal space. The use of rare earth magnets in high-end speakers is spreading for the sake of space efficiency and improved sound quality. Rare earth magnets make it possible to secure both compact speaker size and high sound quality.Back to Top

Recent automobiles require fine control of intake air flow in order to attain both improved fuel economy and driving performance. Electric valve actuators using rare earth magnets make it possible to optimally control for the intake air required for fuel combustion in the cylinder.Back to Top

It is said that the three elements of a gasoline engine are "good fuel, good air, and a good spark". An ignition coil is a device that uses electromagnetic inductance to generate high voltage on a spark plug. Incorporating rare earth magnets in the coil makes it possible for a compact coil to generate high voltage.Back to Top