10181745Feasibility of a Magnetless Wound Field, Rotor & Stator Water-Cooled Motor Architecture for a Rare-Earth-Free, Resilient UK Supply Chain Compatible with Conventional 3-Phase power electronics for seamless multi-platform integrationClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKElectric vehicles (EVs) are at the heart of the global transition to net zero, helping to decarbonise road transport and reduce air pollution. However, EVs remain expensive, and the traction motor is the second-most expensive subsystem after the battery. Around 86% of EVs rely on permanent-magnet (PM) motors, while 90% of rare-earth magnet production is controlled by China, leading to a significant material security challenge. According to the IEA, global demand for rare earths is projected to outstrip supply by 2.5× by 2030, which could slow the growth of EVs, wind turbines, and other green technologies. To secure a resilient, low-carbon UK supply chain, the industry must transition to magnetless motor technologies. There are four main scalable magnet-free options: switched-reluctance (SRM), synchronous-reluctance (SynRM), induction (IM), and wound-field (WFM) machines. SRM and SynRM designs offer low power density and poor efficiency, limiting their application in passenger cars. A number of start-ups are working on these two topologies. IM motors have also been used but typically suffer from lower efficiency and rotor heat losses. Among these options, wound-field motors are emerging as the most promising path forward, offering near-PM performance. However, they currently face major challenges around rotor and stator overheating and complex power electronics. Cooled Motors is addressing these barriers through its proprietary thermal-management technologies, CoolShaft(tm) and CoolDisc(tm). CoolShaft provides advanced liquid cooling through the rotor shaft, while CoolDisc delivers efficient stator-side thermal control. Together, they enable higher continuous power density and improved efficiency. In addition, we have developed an innovative exciter and control design that is compatible with standard three-phase power electronics, allowing seamless replacement of PM motors without costly platform changes. This represents a step-change in smart motor design, world-class manufacturing potential, and UK supply-chain resilience. In this project, Cooled Motors will evaluate both the market and intellectual-property feasibility of commercialising this design. We have conducted our own internal freedom-to-operate (FTO) review and identified three novel inventions that can be commercially exploited. The project will include a professional FTO and IP exploitation study with patent attorneys to define inventive steps, draft protection strategies, and prioritise filings. It will also include a detailed market and value-chain analysis outlining partnership routes and a commercial roadmap aligning IP, market insight, and business model options to support scale-up and future demonstration.