Magnomatics, developer of advanced magnetic transmissions and high-torque electrical machines, has received a £99,900 Smart Award to develop its Pseudo Direct Drive technology.
The grant from Innovate UK – to aid the £167,000 project – will allow Magnomatics to further develop the PDD, which is aimed at providing next generation low noise and vibration electric motor technology to urban and suburban rail markets.
So far, the motors produced by Magnomatics have been in prototype quantity, but the grant will allow them to be developed further beyond the largely first-generation designs used so far.
Magnomatics’ PDD motor can displace incumbent machinery such as expensive gearboxes, while maintaining high efficiency, offering low maintenance costs and high reliability.
The advantages of the PDD have already been demonstrated in two Technology Strategy Board (now Innovate UK) funded projects under the LCV IDP programme with Volvo Powertrain and a consortium including Dennis-Eagle and MIRA, in which the motor demonstrated significant efficiency and packaging advantages over existing advanced technology.
CEO at Magnomatics, David Latimer commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded this Smart Award.
“The grant funding will allow us to further develop the Pseudo Direct Drive, which we feel offers a significant advantage over existing technologies in the urban and suburban rail markets.”
