The company’s Gen2.0 PremiumPlus+™ motors are designed to cost effectively maximize energy efficiency in variable-speed applications.

NovaTorque Inc.’s family of Gen2.0 PremiumPlus+™ Electronically Commutated Permanent Magnet (ECPM) motors will soon be available in high speed 3 hp and 5 hp 2400 rpm (maximum speed 3600 rpm) models. Also available in 3 hp and 5 hp 1800 rpm models (maximum speed 2700 rpm), NovaTorque motors utilize low-cost ferrite magnets in an innovative flux-focusing design to deliver the superior efficiency of rare-earth permanent magnet motors at a price that is competitive with induction motors.

“Anyone can build a high efficiency motor using expensive materials and costly manufacturing tolerances and processes. It is also easy to build a low-cost motor with low efficiency. The real challenge is to build a high efficiency motor with a low manufacturing cost, and our Gen2.0 PremiumPlus motors do that,” says John Petro, NovaTorque founder and CTO. “Making a significant environmental impact requires that this new motor technology become nearly as ubiquitous as the AC induction motor is today. That can only be achieved by meeting efficiency goals at a cost and price point that encourages widespread adoption. So our goal has been to create the best efficiency per dollar motor available on the market today.”

Driven by VFDs, Gen2.0 PremiumPlus+ ECPM motors boast motor-only rated point efficiencies of 93.0 and 92% percent for 3hp and 5hp versions respectively, far exceeding the levels achieved with induction motors. Additionally, unlike induction motors, NovaTorque’s PremiumPlus+ ECPM motors maintain their high efficiency and high torque over a very broad speed and load range.

“Electric motors are everywhere, and nearly half of the electricity produced in the word is used to drive electric motors. The International Energy Agency estimates that ‘the potential exists to cost effectively improve the energy efficiency of electric motor systems by 20% to 30%,’” explains Emily Liggett, NovaTorque CEO. “Adoption of their recommendations, all easily economically justified, would result in a savings of $110 billion/year in energy costs and a reduction in 1.3 billion tons of CO2 emissions each year. These are significant numbers with enormously positive potential consequences, both economic and environmental. Further, they are based on what was considered the current state of art — premium efficient induction motors driven by variable frequency drives. NovaTorque’s innovative technology, with patented flux-focusing stator and rotor hub geometry, produces this performance with an all-ferrite (versus rare earth) magnet design provides the real potential to significantly increase those savings.”