An ultra-high-speed ball bearing for electric vehicle motors has been developed and is said to be the world's fastest grease-lubricated deep groove ball bearing for electric vehicle applications.

The technology can operate at a speed of more than 1.8 million decimeters and is said to provide electric vehicles with longer vehicle mileage and higher energy economy.

Automakers are looking for smaller, lighter car parts to help expand the reach of a single charge. Electric vehicle OEMs are also developing motors with faster speeds, higher output power, and higher operating efficiency.

Therefore, bearings used in power systems, especially electric motors, must meet the ever-increasing demands for speed and performance.

The previous generation (second generation) ultra-high-speed ball bearings used in EV motors provided 1.4 million dmN and made significant progress in cage and anti-seize technology. However, in the third generation of products, NSK has aligned its solution with the need for bearings that can achieve higher speeds.

In addition to the 1.8 million dmN rotation performance (increased by 28.5%), the new bearing also has the world's first cage that takes advantage of topology optimization. By using this process, the material layout in the design space can be optimized to maximize product performance.

For new bearings, topology optimization helps to maximize strength and weight reduction by eliminating components that do not contribute to cage durability or rigidity, while also helping to derive the best cage shape for high-speed rotation. By using leading simulation technology to verify cage performance and production considerations, cage development time is very short.

The cage adopts a new type of high-rigidity resin material, which is more effective in restraining deformation during high-speed rotation than traditional materials. As a further point of attention, NSK fills the bearings with a proprietary grease, which can reduce the stirring resistance of the lubricant and any subsequent heating, extend the life of the grease and the bearing, and reduce the risk of seizure. It is the combination of NSK special grease and newly developed cage that enables this high-performance deep groove ball bearing to operate under a pressure of more than 1.8 million decimeters.

Bearings with this capability enable customers to develop and implement electric motors that run at significantly higher speeds. Higher motor output helps improve efficiency (reduce power consumption per unit distance), expand vehicle mileage and improve user comfort. Higher speeds also facilitate the use of smaller motors, thereby reducing vehicle weight and increasing the space available for other components, more batteries, or larger vehicle interiors.

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