2019
It is anticipated that many future electrified vehicle transmissions and axles will incorporate the electric motor within the unit housing. In such an arrangement, the lubricant will be in direct contact with powered motor windings, which raises new concerns regarding its electrical conductivity and its propensity to corrode copper. The heat produced at the motor windings will challenge the lubricant’s heat transfer ability and its thermal stability. Expected high temperature excursions warrant the use of new plastics, which may give rise to new compatibility concerns. In this paper we share our learnings regarding the electrical properties of lubricants and discuss new methods to characterize copper corrosion. We review the factors that affect the heat transfer characteristics of lubricants and illustrate how improving heat transfer will favor the use of lower viscosity lubricants. We also share our early efforts to quantify lubricant compatibility with higher temperature plastics using tensile strength measurements. Finally, we discuss how these new concerns will shift the perception of what is required for lubricants used in different types of electrified transmission hardware.
