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Bengaluru based deep tech company Vimag Labs has secured its fifth Indian patent, protecting the core architecture of its Virtual Magnet Synchronous Motor (VMSM) — a motor that replaces rare earth permanent magnets with software controlled magnetic fields. The grant arrives as the company scales pilot programs with automotive OEMs and prepares for wider commercial deployment across mobility, industrial, and defence applications.
What the Patent Covers
The patent, titled “A Robust Rotating Transformer Excited Synchronous Motor and Its Control,” protects the foundational engineering behind VMSM. Unlike conventional Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs), which depend on fixed rare earth magnets in the rotor, VMSM generates its magnetic field in real time using power electronics and proprietary control algorithms — resulting in a brushless, slip ring free motor built entirely from copper, steel, and standard electronics.
Why This Matters
Rare-earth magnets are a critical vulnerability in global EV supply chains. China controls close to 90 percent of the world’s rare earth supply and roughly 94 percent of magnets used in high power motors, according to International Energy Agency data. For Indian OEMs, that dependency creates both cost exposure and geopolitical risk. A magnet free, software defined alternative — manufacturable domestically — directly supports the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives while offering a hedge against supply disruptions.
Commercial Momentum
Vimag Labs now holds five granted patents, ten pending, and fifteen trademarks filed. The company has active pilots underway with two wheeler and passenger vehicle manufacturers, with plans to expand into light commercial vehicles, commercial vehicles, and industrial systems ranging from 200 kW to 600 kW, alongside robotics, defence, and cooling applications. The company recently raised a $5 million Series A led by Accel, with participation from Chakra Growth Fund and Thinkuvate, and signed a manufacturing MoU with Jendamark Pvt. Ltd. to support production scale up.
How VMSM Technology Works
VMSM eliminates the need for physical magnets by using firmware to convert copper coils into tuned electromagnets in real time. Power is transferred within the motor without brushes or slip rings, and because behavior is software governed, performance can potentially be updated remotely over time — unlike magnets, which degrade with heat and age.
What’s Next
Vimag Labs is targeting between 1,000 and 10,000 motors shipped from its factory by year end, alongside development of a custom chip aimed at reducing electronics costs. The company is also preparing a new funding round and holding early stage discussions with India’s electronics ministry on defence applications, positioning VMSM as a scalable answer to one of the EV industry’s most pressing supply chain challenges.
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