As the world shifts towards a more sustainable future, a growing concern is emerging: the increasing reliance on rare-earth minerals in electric motors, and the widening technological divide that may arise from their scarcity. Electric vehicles and renewable energy systems heavily rely on these minerals, but their extraction and processing pose significant environmental and social risks. Now, researchers are racing to develop rare-earth-free electric motors, which could not only reduce our reliance on these precious resources but also make clean energy more accessible to developing countries. However, the transition to these new technologies will require significant investment and infrastructure upgrades, raising questions about who will be left behind in the process.
Rare-earth-free electric motors and the widening technological divide The Jakarta Post
