A major laboratory in the United States has developed a new tool that can help manufacturers make engine technology decisions amid critical material shortages. The tool, called Motor Decide, is designed to help industries evaluate electric motor technologies and make informed decisions under uncertain market conditions.
“Many companies make technology decisions based largely on market dynamics or competitor activity,” said Praveen Kumar of ORNL, lead researcher on the project. “We wanted to create a tool that helps companies make more informed, data-driven decisions over the long term.”
The researchers also highlighted that 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 the industry works to reduce reliance on vulnerable supply chains and manage increasing geopolitical and market uncertainty, selecting the right propulsion technology is becoming increasingly complex.
An SI-driven platform can help companies evaluate electric motor technologies
The platform, driven by Super Intelligence (SI), can help companies evaluate electric motor technologies before market conditions change.
The team also highlighted that electric motors power a wide range of technologies, from hybrid or electric vehicles to industrial systems and home appliances. Many rely on critical minerals such as copper and rare earth elements, which are facing growing supply chain pressures. Motor Decide was created to help companies consider possible alternatives.
The system combines SI, advanced modeling and large-scale scenario analysis to assess how engine technologies might perform amid fluctuating material costs and supply chain disruptions. Researchers can model what happens if copper prices rise sharply or if a newer technology becomes commercially viable in a few years. The result is an organized set of engine technology options with insights into cost, performance, critical material usage, manufacturability and long-term risk.
“We define the operating environment in which the decision is made. This includes sourcing sources, manufacturing readiness, technology maturity and application requirements. We then test how these factors change in different scenarios,” Kumar said.
The platform also takes into account how organizations make decisions
The platform also takes into account how organizations make decisions, helping users evaluate trade-offs and quantify risks when comparing new technologies. “Ultimately, the decision is up to the people,” Kumar said. “We try to quantify uncertainty and incorporate it into the decision-making process.”
Motor Decide is also designed to work with another ORNL-developed platform, Motor AI, which leverages SI-powered engineering tools to accelerate detailed engine design. While Motor Decide helps determine the best engine technology path, Motor AI performs the detailed engine design work needed to bring these concepts to life, according to a press release.
Once a company selects a preferred engine approach, researchers can transfer the results into Engine AI to create detailed design configurations and technical specifications. Together, the tools could help accelerate the development of more resilient electric motor systems while reducing the risks associated with critical material shortages, volatile supply chains and rapidly changing global markets. The effort reflects ORNL’s broader mission to combine superintelligence, advanced manufacturing and energy research to help strengthen U.S. competitiveness and industrial resilience. According to the press release, researchers continue to evaluate and expand the platform’s capabilities for future applications.
