Supplier of components and systems to the automotive industry since the 1920's, SKF is now teaming up with CEVT, the innovation Centre within Geely family and the Luleå University of Technology on a research project that is advancing the position on how water-based lubricants can improve the already high efficiency of electric vehicles.
Lubrication is one of the key components for efficient rotation. As the future demand of electric and environmentally friendly vehicles increases, every key component must be as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. Today, there are water-based lubricants in development that can potentially be used with positive effect on the electric drive train efficiency. The main benefits with a water-based lubricant is the substantial reduction in friction losses and better thermal properties compared to a traditional oil, but the product lifetime of transmission components such as bearings and gears should not be compromised.
To realise a potential industrialisation of water-based lubricants in our transmissions there are areas ranging from micro geometries to system level design that need to be understood and developed. To harvest the improvements and address the challenges, the Swedish Energy Agency has just granted CEVT resources to lead a joint project together with SKF and Luleå Technical University to explore how water-based lubricants can improve the already high efficiency of electric vehicles.
“Energy efficiency will always be a high focus area in CEVT. It must be. Our customers expect nothing less. This project enables a close collaboration with strategic industry partners as well as with the academia. The likelihood that this will be implemented in future industrialization projects is great. It will be a win not only for the partners in the project but for the environment,” says Tommy Brandt, system engineer at CEVT.
“The electric vehicles of the future place new demands on materials and technologies. Through this collaboration we will expand our knowledge of water-based lubricants, giving us great insight into the future needs of sustainable vehicles,” says Gregory Zimmerman, SKF director product line electric vehicles.
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