Simple Energy Breaks Rare Earth Dependence, Manufactures India’s First Heavy Rare Earth-free EV Motors

In a milestone for India’s electric vehicle (EV) industry, Bengaluru-based Simple Energy has announced the successful commercial production of the country’s first heavy rare earth-free motors.

The breakthrough comes amid global concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities linked to critical raw materials.

The motors, developed entirely in-house, match the performance of conventional rare-earth-based systems while eliminating reliance on heavy rare earth elements—a critical step toward sustainable and self-reliant electric mobility.

Production is currently underway at the company’s 200,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

“Global supply chain disruptions and material dependencies have made one thing clear: the future of electric mobility must be built on self-reliance,” said Suhas Rajkumar, CEO and Co-founder of Simple Energy. “This patented, in-house technology replaces heavy rare earth magnets with optimized compounds and is powered by proprietary algorithms that manage heat and torque in real time. Already in production, it proves that high performance can be achieved without compromising sustainability or strategic independence.”

What are Rare Earth Materials?

Rare earth materials are a group of 17 metallic elements used widely in high-tech industries, especially for EV motors, batteries, wind turbines, and electronics.

Their demand has surged globally as the transition to clean energy accelerates, but supply remains heavily concentrated in a few countries, creating price volatility and geopolitical risks.

The Technology Behind the Breakthrough

Traditionally, heavy rare earth magnets have been essential for delivering torque density in EV motors. Simple Energy’s R&D team, however, developed a patented motor architecture that uses alternative compounds paired with algorithms to manage heat, magnetic fields, and torque delivery.

Unlike most OEMs that rely heavily on external suppliers, Simple Energy designs and manufactures its own motors—giving the company complete control over iterations, testing, and commercialization speed.

A Growing EV Pioneer

Founded in 2019 by Rajkumar and Shreshth Mishra, Simple Energy has positioned itself as a leader in India’s two-wheeler EV market with its Simple ONE Gen 1.5 (248 km range) and Simple OneS (181 km range) scooters. The company has raised over $41 million from prominent investors including the Desai Family Office, Haran Family Office, Dr. A Velumani’s family office, Vasavi Group, and others.

With 95% localization already achieved across its supply chain, Simple Energy is aggressively expanding retail operations. The company currently operates 46 showrooms in cities such as Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kochi, and plans to scale to 150 stores and 200 service centers by FY25.

Looking ahead, Simple Energy is preparing for an IPO in FY27, targeting a raise of USD 350 million to accelerate product innovation, expand manufacturing, and deepen market penetration across India.