# Electric motors and drives: Relationships

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/links/

Every element and industry that Electric motors and drives is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

- [Steel](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-steel/): Every electric motor's magnetic core is a stack of thin non-oriented electrical steel, and the quality of that steel sets a large part of the motor's energy losses. It is a specialised grade made by few mills, so its supply and price follow their own cycle rather than the general steel market. *(researched)*
- [Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-vehicles-ships-rail-aircraft/): Electric vehicles move on traction motors, and most of those motors use rare-earth permanent magnets made almost entirely in China, so the motor is where the vehicle industry's exposure to magnet supply sits, as 2025's export curbs showed. *(researched)*
- [Water and sanitation](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-water-and-sanitation/): Water and sewage services are mostly a matter of moving water uphill and through pipes, so motor-driven pumps and blowers use most of a utility's electricity, and efficient motors and drives are the main lever on its energy bill. *(researched)*
- [Copper](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/copper-and-electric-motors-and-drives/): Motors are one of copper's biggest uses, because their stator windings, and in some designs the rotor, are copper; tighter efficiency classes such as IE3 cut resistive losses largely by adding active material, so efficiency rules raise copper use per motor. *(researched)*
- [Transformers and power electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to electric motors and drives; their prices have moved together.
- [Building materials](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/building-materials-and-electric-motors-and-drives/): Building materials depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Compressed-air and CO2 storage](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/compressed-air-and-co2-storage-and-electric-motors-and-drives/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Computers and electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/computers-and-electronics-and-electric-motors-and-drives/): Computers and electronics depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/distribution-grids-mini-grids-and-interconnectors-and-electric-motors-and-drives/): Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to electric motors and drives.
- [Electric and hybrid vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-and-hybrid-vehicles-and-electric-motors-and-drives/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to electric and hybrid vehicles.
- [Electrical equipment](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-electrical-equipment/): Electrical equipment depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Energy in buildings](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-energy-in-buildings/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to energy in buildings.
- [Energy in farming](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-energy-in-farming/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to energy in farming.
- [Energy-intensive industry](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-energy-intensive-industry/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to energy-intensive industry.
- [Epoxy resins](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-epoxy-resins/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Food and beverage processing](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-food-and-beverage-processing/): Food and beverage processing depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Machinery and equipment](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-machinery-and-equipment/): Machinery and equipment depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Mechanical power transmission](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-mechanical-power-transmission/): Their prices have moved together.
- [Metal products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-metal-products/): Metal products depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Plastic and rubber products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-plastic-and-rubber-products/): Plastic and rubber products depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Rail traction](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-rail-traction/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to rail traction.
- [Rare earths](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-rare-earths/): Electric motors and drives needs rare earths.
- [Regenerative braking and motion recovery](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-regenerative-braking-and-motion-recovery/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to regenerative braking and motion recovery.
- [Ship propulsion](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-ship-propulsion/): Energy flows from electric motors and drives to ship propulsion.
- [Textiles and leather](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-textiles-and-leather/): Textiles and leather depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Waste and recycling](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-waste-and-recycling/): Waste and recycling depends on electric motors and drives.
- [Wood products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-wood-products/): Wood products depends on electric motors and drives.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/equipment/index.md)