Do you manufacture automobiles or automotive parts? You’re in luck because Apex Magnets offers a wide range of strong neodymium magnets that are ideal for automobiles.  From the brake system to sensing nearby objects, Apex Magnets has you covered! We offer neodymium, ceramic, ferrite, and many more strong magnets that will make the ride smoother and safer. Not to mention, we also offer heavy-duty magnets that can be used in automobile manufacturing to lift heavy parts of the vehicle and keep them in place throughout the production process.  From production line to finished product, we’ll be uncovering how magnets are used in the automotive industry. 

Brakes and Brake Lights 

Starting with the braking system, ceramic or ferrite magnets are used in anti-lock braking systems (ABS), which prevents the steering wheel from locking while braking quickly. This allows drivers to steer away from objects while in an accident and possibly prevent the accident altogether. Reed switches also play a role in anti-locking braking systems, which is a combination of two ferromagnetic electrical conductors spaced a small distance apart. For instance, magnets are attached to each wheel on your car. With every rotation, the magnets pass a mounted reed switch. By registering how many times the circuit in the switch closes, your onboard computer determines the speed of your spinning wheels. If you stomp on the brakes and the computer determines one wheel is spinning faster than another, more hydraulic oil is fed into that brake, causing it to slow and granting you more control over the car. Moving into brake lights, when you step on your brakes, your brake lights turn on alerting those near you that you are slowing down. Similar to braking systems, when you step down on the brakes, magnets installed behind your foot pedal trigger a reed switch, causing an electrical signal to your brake lights. As you can see, magnets keep us safe on the road, especially when it comes to braking. 

Doors

Every time you lock your door, you’re using magnets. When you press the lock button on your car keys, magnets hold your car door in place while you are on the road or secured when you park your car in a parking lot. Magnets are capable of holding heavy car doors still while you are driving to keep you safe.  Additionally, when car doors are not shut properly, built-in alarms tell us when the door is not shut properly. Similar to braking systems, car doors work on a reed switch system. There’s a magnet located inside the door and whenever doors are not shut properly, the magnet will not be in line with the reed switch. When the reed switch doesn’t detect the magnet, the reed switch does not detect the magnet, it will trigger an alarm to alert you to close the door. Last but not least, magnets in doors keep your doors locked when you park your car in a parking lot. Without magnets, people would be able to easily break into cars. 

Seatbelt 

Magnets are very important when it comes to seat belts. When you forget to fasten your seatbelt or if your seatbelt isn’t completely fastened, a beeping noise or a flashing warning will come up. As you might’ve guessed, this is because of a reed switch sensor located behind your seat belt latch as well as a magnet inside the seat belt tongue. In the presence of a magnetic field like the one inside the seat belt tongue, the reeds connect, closing the circuit. When the circuit isn’t closed, the alarm system activates, creating an annoying beeping noise to make sure that people buckle their seat belt. 

Tires 

Moving on to automobile tires, magnetic sensors alert us when our vehicles need maintenance and when a car part needs to be fixed. For instance, magnetic sensors pick up when tire pressure is not in sync or if the tire pressure is off. Additionally, every hybrid and electric vehicle relies on strong neodymium magnets to move the car tires. These types of vehicles rely on electric motors that are made of a coil of wire that can spin and are surrounded by a strong magnet. When an electric current is induced in the coil, it emits a magnetic field, opposing the magnetic field emitted by the strong magnets. Due to the magnetic poles, the coil spins at a high speed as it is attached to an axle that allows the vehicle to move. Without magnets, there wouldn’t even be electric or hybrid vehicles. 

Engines and Motors

Did you know that powerful magnets are key to making a car faster and higher performing? In automobiles used in racing, strong neodymium magnets are used in the engine to allow them to drive faster without losing control or impacting smoothness of the ride. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, electric vehicles rely on electric motors to move. When there is an electric current moving through the motor, the electromagnet inside rotates and is contacted to an axle that allows the car to move. Other magnet applications in motors include alternators, drive motors, fans, power steering, starters, seat motors, and windshield wipers.

Contact Apex 

At Apex Magnets, we offer strong neodymium magnets that are perfect for many uses in the automotive industry. Be sure to visit our website to see our available magnets or contact us to learn more about how we can help your automotive business!  In addition, we offer custom magnets to match your business needs. All you have to do is fill out our online form and we will provide you with a quote for FREE within 1-2 business days! To learn more about our custom order process, click here.