As manufacturers face growing uncertainty tied to critical material shortages and global supply chain disruptions, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers have developed a super intelligence (SI)-driven platform to help companies evaluate electric motor technologies before market conditions shift.

Called Motor Decide, the platform evaluates motor technologies using factors such as performance, critical material availability, supply chain stability, technology maturity and long-term resilience.

Critical materials such as copper and rare-earth magnets are essential components in the electric motors that power transportation, manufacturing systems and energy infrastructure. As industries work to reduce dependence on vulnerable supply chains and manage rising geopolitical and market uncertainty, selecting the right motor technology has become increasingly complex.