Feature

IE5 motor efficiency standard could help government’s climate change ambitions

The UK government’s bold climate-stabilising target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 would be helped significantly by the adoption of IE5 standards for electric motor efficiency, says David Ede, Business Development Manager at TEC Motors.

17/12/2019 14:53:36

Over the last few decades electric motor makers have developed their designs so that efficiency has indeed improved. Driving this along has been the introduction of the IE standards for motor efficiency, the most recent IE4 coming into force in 2011.

At that point it was inevitable that the idea of a higher standard, IE5, would be mooted. To date there is not an official IE5 specification, but there are draft consultation proposals that basically call for a 20% improvement over IE4 motors. Several manufacturers have used these to develop their next generation of high efficiency motors and are promoting them as ‘IE5-ready’.

As well as the ecological benefits higher efficiency motors are also cheaper to run (if not purchase – more on that later), so they offer an immediate bottom-line benefit to users. This is particularly important for motors that run continuously or for long periods, while – naturally – bigger motors generate bigger savings.

Read the full article in the January 2020 issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.