MAGELLAN
MAGnets in rEsiLient suppLy chAiNs
Magellan Project
Supporting the revolution of the electric vehicle industry in Europe
The MAGELLAN project is poised to support the revolution of the electric vehicle industry in Europe by creating a cutting-edge, cost-efficient approach for improved sustainability and resilience of European electric vehicle traction motors (EVTMs). This ambitious initiative, coordinated by Orano, brings together leading experts from a range of disciplines - material science, EVTM design, manufacturing, recycling, and
end-users - to engineer a highly efficient and sustainable rare-earth-element (REE) permanent magnet (PM) value chain. The MAGELLAN consortium comprises of 15 partners from 8 different EU countries.
end-users - to engineer a highly efficient and sustainable rare-earth-element (REE) permanent magnet (PM) value chain. The MAGELLAN consortium comprises of 15 partners from 8 different EU countries.
Through innovative techniques such as neodymium substitution and functionally shaped permanent magnets through Powder Injection Moulding (PIM), MAGELLAN will produce a new EVTM rotor design that improves assembly, motor performance, reduces PM content and facilitates dismantling of end-of-life motors. The project's optimisation of magnet recovery and recycling will minimise the dispersion and dilution of heavy REEs, avoid downcycling, and support standardised magnet labelling.
MAGELLANS's highly recyclable PM prototypes will be demonstrated in existing as well as newly designed EVTMs, achieving a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL). The future industrialisation of the MAGELLAN solution is expected to make a significant impact on the European EVTM marketplace, bolster a responsible supply of raw materials, and potentially cut PM CO2 emissions by up to 50%.
The objectives (OB) of Magellan are:
- OB1. Establish new PM manufacturing processes to increase the resource efficiency for use in EVTMs
- OB2. Design advanced magnet and rotor shapes for EVTMs, that enable easy dismantling and material
separation to enhance recovery rates and cost-effectiveness - OB3. Demonstrate the MAGELLAN solution readiness for highly recyclable permanent magnets in an
EVTM - OB4. Increase REE recovery from End-of-Life (EoL) PM with magnet-to-alloy short-loop and improve
characterisation and sorting of EoL magnets to increase functional recycling of Heavy Rare Earth
Elements (HREE) and PM magnets alloys - OB5. Demonstrate the sustainability and business benefits of the MAGELLAN solution by Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) and calculations regarding existing REE sourcing and sustainability guidelines
Partnership
ORANO PROJETS SAS (Coordinator) - France
MAGNETI LJUBLJANA PODJETJE ZA PROIZVODNJO MAGNETNIH MATERIALOV DD - Slovenia
CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPA - Italy
BLC - The Battery Lifecycle Company - Germany
COMET TRAITEMENTS SA - Belgium
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES - France
IFP Energies nouvelles - France
UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE - Belgium
FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION - Spain
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAT DARMSTADT - Germany
GEOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS - Finland
LOMARTOV SL - Spain
RTD TALOS LIMITED - Cyprus
EIT RAW MATERIALS GMBH - Germany
Funding
Horizon Europe
7.5M€
Timeline
From January 2024 (duration: 36 months)
Communication
Magellan - Press Release Jan 24
News published in October 2025
© EU
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Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement No:101138260
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updated on 4/10/26
