Since 2000, Iver Anderson, the Ames Laboratory’s senior metallurgist and adjunct professor of materials science and engineering, has been working to advance the efficiency of magnets used in electric-drive automobiles.

Now, after eight years, Anderson and his colleagues Bill McCallum, adjunct professor of materials science and engineering, and Matthew Kramer, scientist with Ames Lab, have made breakthroughs Anderson said will directly impact the automobile industry.

During research, Anderson, McCallum and Kramer were able to unveil a magnetic alloy that is able to resist corrosion while becoming more potent at high temperatures.

“The advantage of our alloy is that it can withstand temperatures up to about 200 degrees Celsius,” Anderson said.

“Electric motors, especially if they are run under high-torque conditions, need to be able to tolerate high temperatures and high environmental temperatures. If you couple high environmental temperatures with high operating temperatures, the current magnets will decrease greatly in efficiency.”

In the long run, Anderson said consumers must adjust their thought patterns to accept electric-drive automobiles as technology improves.

Currently, most automobiles that are fully electric are limited in their size, speed or battery capacity – all variables that Amescars.com owner Thomas Gleisner said will be changing sooner rather than later.

“I think the overall feeling is that it’s about time that changes start rolling in,” Gleisner said.

“It’s sad to know that it’s taken this long to see that change is needed, but nice to see that we are at the point that there are research dollars funding these projects; we’re very excited.”

Amescars.com is the only car dealer in the state that sells cars that are fully electric.

As a driver of an electric automobile, Gleisner said that companies such as Zenn are making drastic improvements to the industry.

“Zenn is developing open-road vehicles that are capable of 70 to 80 miles per hour and 150 to 250 miles per charge,” Gleisner said. “These cars are fully electric. We’re not talking about hybrids – these are fully electric cars.”

Anderson agreed with Gleisner’s assertion that U.S. automobile manufacturers need to start directing their focus toward mass-producing affordable electric vehicles.

Some individuals have come to question the performance aspect of current electric-drive automobiles because of their limited speed capabilities (35 to 40 mph) and size, but Anderson quickly laid those assumptions to rest.

“Electric motors have instant high torque so, if you want to squeal your tires, you can do that – no problem,” Anderson said.