Simple Energy has taken a significant stride forward in electric vehicle (EV) technology. The Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer has developed the country’s first rare earth free EV motor. With China imposing restrictions on rare earth element shipments to India, the EV industry nearly came to a grinding halt a few months ago.
Amidst China’s control over rare earth elements, Simple has become India’s first OEM to begin commercial production of heavy rare earth-free electric motors. The company says that this breakthrough has been made possible through extensive research and development (&D) that has led to a 95 percent localized manufacturing line.
Commenting on the achievement, Suhas Rajkumar, CEO and Co-founder, Simple Energy, said, “Global supply chain disruptions and material dependencies have made one thing clear: the future of electric mobility must be built on self-reliance. Deep localization and a ‘Make in India’ approach are no longer aspirations—they’re imperatives.”
In-house manufacturing, reduced R&D timelines
Rajkumar further added that this patented, in-house technology replaces heavy rare earth magnets with optimized compounds and is powered by proprietary algorithms that manage heat and torque in real time. With motors being manufactured entirely in-house, Simple has dramatically reduced R&D timelines, bringing advanced, heavy rare earth-free motors to market much faster than the industry norm.
This electric motor is being produced at Simple’s state-of-the-art, 200,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. For years, heavy rare earth magnets have been the standard choice in EV motors, valued for their high torque density and compact design. The recent supply crisis, however, underscored the urgent need for localization.
In response to material restrictions, Simple Energy began exploring alternative compounds and systematically testing combinations to achieve performance comparable to heavy rare-earth-based systems. Earlier in July this year, in an interaction with Express Drives, Rajkumar confirmed that Simple Energy is in the final stages of developing an electric motor that is free of any rare earth element.
Simple Energy other developments
Besides the new rare earth free electric motor, Simple Energy is also working on Gen 2 of the Simple One electric scooter which is bound to see several upgrades over the Gen 1.5 model and the One S. Further, the Bengaluru-based EV startup is also gearing up to launch its own IPO (Initial Public Offering) within the next 14 to 16 months.