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Honda Unveils First Hybrid Motor Without Heavy Rare Earth Metals (engadget.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Honda has unveiled its new hybrid motor this week that doesn't use heavy rare earth metals like dysprosium and terbium -- though it still does contain neodymium. The motor was co-developed alongside Daido Steel and will use their magnets in replace of the rare earth metals because they cost 10 percent less and weigh 8 percent less. Honda is the first automaker to develop a hybrid motor that doesn't use heavy rare earth metals. The company says the new engines will reduce its reliance on the metals that are primarily supplied by China. They're expected to make their debut in the compact Freed minivan this fall, a vehicle that is already on the road in Asia.

3 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Republicans raped me in Brazil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    The republicans have saved us from slavery. They have fought for it, while the democrats still wanted to restrict our freedoms.

    The democrats are like maggots in an open wound, eating our flesh and keeping the wound open so that they can continue eating. They support international trade deals that rip us off, and profit themselves in the process. They are certainly servants of the devil. That's what they are.

  2. Dear Brain Master by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    China is in a special position with rare earth elements because, while not quite a monopoly, for some of the metals it is very, very close. They are an extremely important supplier of several rare earth elements.

    Steel? You can get that from just about any country.

  3. Planned takeover by sjbe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Rare earth metals aren't all that rare. It's just that other countries don't want to destroy their environments mining them.

    Partly that and partly that China has made it uneconomical to mine them elsewhere. Not by accident either. China's government has strategically supported this with subsidies and cheap labor.