The revision process of the EU Ecodesign regulation on motors is ongoing, leading to a proposal for revised regulation in 2025. Article 9 in the regulation stipulates which elements should be addressed, including, among others, the introduction of stricter MEPS, an extension of MEPS to permanent magnet (PM) motors, and the introduction of resource efficiency requirements. This last topic should be seen in light of the ongoing reform of the existing Ecodesign Directive into the ESPR, which will take a broader set of environmental impact categories into account.

The potential introduction of stricter MEPS is not posing major design problems in itself, as some induction motors available on the market today already have efficiency levels above IE4. Combining increased efficiency levels with a reduction in material mass, however, is a totally different kind of challenge. The largest efficiency gains in induction motors up to now were achieved by increasing stator winding cross-sections, which leads to bigger sizes and weights. Alternative winding techniques could reduce both energy losses and the amount of material used to a certain point.

Material use in the motor could be considered in a broader perspective. Increasing the energy efficiency of electric motor systems reduces the generation, transmission and distribution capacity required to supply the motor, bringing along an associated reduction in material use and improving the overall environmental balance. Furthermore, material masses are likely to be differentiated according to their criticality, as a result of which the use of copper, aluminium and steel would be less problematic than, for example, rare-earth permanent magnets. Finally, the recyclability of the motor could also be regulated.

This paper presents various design options coping with possible future requirements and summarises the main implications in terms of energy performance, use of materials and circularity.