Hyundai Mobis develops nickel-free inductor material

Hyundai Mobis Co. has developed the world's first nickel-free inductor material, which is expected to sharply cut the cost of manufacturing inductor, the South Korean automotive parts maker said on Tuesday. 

The unit of Hyundai Motor Group is now conducting a verification test of the new material that replaces nickel with silicon. Inductors are components of the power transformers used in automobiles. They are made of an iron-nickel alloy powder. 

Soaring nickel prices were blamed for higher manufacturing costs of vehicle components, as the rare metal became a key ingredient of electric vehicle batteries. Over the past 10 years, nickel prices have shot up about sixfold.

Hyundai Mobis has also developed an inductor material with 30% nickel content, down from the previous 50%. It is slated for commercial production, the company said in a presentation on its auto parts materials development strategy. 

The company is shifting toward innovative, sustainable materials to comply with global climate change goals.

For example, it is developing a lower arm protective cover, a product that prevents scratches on the lower sections of cars, made of recycled plastics.

It is also working on some 30 new materials for various automotive components made with plastics, including cockpit modules, lamps and airbags.

The European Union is seeking to mandate that by 2030 at least 25% of plastic materials in new vehicles are recycled plastics.

Write to Jae-Fu Kim at hu@hankyung.com
 

Yeonhee Kim edited this article