Modal Motors, a startup set to appear at TechCrunch Disrupt, is trying to eliminate rare-earth magnets from its electric motors entirely. Founder Michael Van Steenburg argues that other U.S. reshoring efforts still rely on magnets sourced from China, and domestic production of those materials remains years away. By designing motors without them, he believes Modal can sidestep that bottleneck and reduce exposure to Chinese export controls.
The company is developing two products: a compact motor for drones that also suits fans and actuators, and a planar motor called the Hybrid Enigma Drive that fits into thinner spaces. Van Steenburg draws on decades of automotive experience, including late-1990s work on a hybrid drivetrain intended for China's "People's Car." He now describes watching China consolidate control over rare-earth supply as a "slow-motion train wreck," and sees his current venture as a way to build a more independent alternative.