The rare earth elements are crucial for making permanent magnets. These magnets are used in every electric car to make them more efficient and environmentally friendly. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to get these elements because most of them come from China. A startup is trying to break this monopoly by recycling old magnets and making new ones using hydrogen.
The company is facing some challenges. They need to find old magnets to recycle, but there are not many suppliers right now. They are looking at old computers and hard drives from data centers and banks. They take these apart to get the magnets out and then use a special machine to get the rare earth elements. The company is also learning about magnetic technology because it is not taught in schools anymore. They are working with experts from the University of Birmingham to get the knowledge they need.
The company is working hard to make this work. They have secured funding from partner companies in Canada and the UK. They are hoping to start making new magnets soon. This will help Europe and other countries to not rely on China for these elements. It will also help the environment because it will use less energy and make less waste. The company is also labeling the magnets they install so that the rare earth elements can be easily identified and recycled later.
