PASSENGER business case 3: water pump motors

Electric water pumps are critical components in both automotive and industrial systems, ensuring efficient cooling, lubrication and fluid circulation. Their use has expanded rapidly with the electrification of vehicles and the need for precise thermal management in batteries, power electronics and fuel cell systems.Currently, most water pump motors rely on NdFeB-based permanent magnets, which create dependency on Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), such as neodymium (Nd) and dysprosium (Dy). The PASSENGER project develops Rare Earth-free permanent magnets based on Manganese–Aluminium–Carbon (MnAlC) and Strontium Ferrite (Sr-ferrite), offering sustainable, EU-made alternatives.This business case focuses on the fabrication of a rotor for a pump motor using PASSENGER’s magnets, demonstrating technical feasibility, economic benefits and sustainability advantages for future water pump applications.