3 Ways Shell EV-Plus can Partner with Auto Manufacturers for Electrification
With the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), the automotive industry is undergoing one of the most profound shifts in its history.
Discover how our development of EV fluid technologies is helping OEMs to stay ahead of the race.
1. Testing to Ensure Effective Engineering
Because the e-mobility industry is still developing, there is far less uniformity across hybrid and EV powertrains; electric motor design is unique to each OEM, which makes engineering EV fluids challenging.
Working alongside OEMs, Shell lubricant Solutions has engineered fluids that meet a range of requirements, suitable for both the newer, wet e-motors and earlier dry e-motor models.
We ve done this by employing screening methods, such as:
- Copper wire corrosion testing
- High-speed foaming testing
- State-of-the-art technology for high-speed driveline test rigs
2. Addressing EV-Specific Pain Points
For wet e-motors, fluids need to do two essential jobs at once: lubricate the gearbox while cooling the electric motor. In all of these, copper compatibility also serves as an all-important factor.
These motors need a fluid that works quickly enough for proper gear protection, which requires additives to facilitate that process. But those same additives can corrode copper, a potentially serious problem in e-motor windings especially when the fluid is filled for life.
Therefore, fluids need the proper chemistry to balance these needs. So, Shell has engineered EV fluids that provide:
- Friction protection for gearboxes
- Thermal protection for motors
- Superior copper compatibility
- Enhanced electrical characteristics
3. Plotting a Path for Future Product Generations
As OEMs design more compact motors, there are higher rotational speeds to contend with. This means that more EVs will need transmissions to manage higher RPMs.
But the high-stress environment of these transmissions can expose them to air and cause fluids to foam, resulting in these fluids losing the ability to protect component surfaces.
This is another area where new-generation EV fluids from Shell stand up to technical requirements. And as we look to the future of e-mobility, Shell will work with OEMs on new EV battery-cooling technologies to better enable faster charging for a rapidly-evolving tomorrow.
