The use of lower viscosity fluid, coupled with the higher load carrying demands of e-axles compared to other electrified transmissions, means that e-axle fluids must be formulated with a different balance of anti-wear and extreme pressure chemistry to protect the hardware. In this video, we review these new challenges.
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Video Transcript
With the electrification of vehicles comes, significant differences beyond the source of their power. Whether it's a hybrid electric vehicle or full battery electric vehicle, specially designed componentry can be found throughout the drivetrain, introducing a host of new operating conditions. The e-axle is a perfect example, while traditional axles contain a hypoid gear set most e-axle designs utilize helical gear devices.
These unique e-axle designs are being paired with fluids that are thinner than traditional axle fluids to deliver greater efficiency and improved heat transfer properties. However, the use of lower viscosity fluid coupled with the higher load carrying demands of e-axles compared to other electrified transmissions means that e-axle fluids must be formulated with a different balance of anti-wear and extreme pressure chemistry to protect the hardware.
This creates a new challenge, extreme pressure chemistry can promote wire corrosion, so e-axle fluids must be specially designed to deliver the appropriate level of load carrying while remaining benign toward wire.
e-axles may contain an embedded electrical motor which comes in contact with the fluid, not surprisingly, this calls for these fluids to be engineered with precise electrical and conductive properties for both hardware durability and personal safety.
As technology and hardware evolve, advanced lubrication chemistry evolves alongside it, continuing to optimize performance and protection under the vastly different operating conditions of electrified environments.
