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TMC Considers Recommending EV Coolant, Lubricant Practices
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Whether the time has come for recommended practices (RPs) for coolants and lubricants for electric vehicles was a topic of discussion during a pair of March 7 study group task force meetings at the Technology & Maintenance Council 2022 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.
“There are more RPs on coolants than any other subject at TMC,” said Joe Long, a TMC member and cooling system subject matter expert at Old World Industries, which produces automotive products under the Peak brand. “The purpose of today is to discuss — is an RP needed for EV coolants. I vote yes.”
The Coolants for Electric Vehicles task force is shared between the S.3 Engine Study Group and S.18 Automated and Electric Vehicles Study Group.
A draft copy of a proposed RP was read during the meeting. The document covered many points, including physical and chemical standards, ideal temperatures and the differences between fuel cells, battery-electric and hybrids.
Long says he "votes yes" on an RP for EV coolants. (John Sommers II for Transport Topics)
The question that sparked the most debate centered on whether there should be a common coolant type; in particular, whether a nitrite-free organic acid technology formulation should be a recommended standard for all EV coolants.
“That’s kind of the purpose of this whole RP, is to make a recommendation,” Long said. “Are we going to follow a guideline like that?”
A meeting of the Lubrication for Electric Vehicles task force, also shared between S.3 and S.18, discussed similar questions.
“Does TMC need any recommended practices for supporting commercial electric vehicles from a lubrication standpoint as compared to their traditional [internal-combustion engines] power counterparts,” said Ray McDonald, a technology manager for EV fluids at ExxonMobil Research. “Most of what I’m going to cover is basically going to be looking at EV versus ICE, and what makes the application different, what makes the lubricant and the technology different.”
During the session, considerations included new- and potential next-generation lubricant types, fluid handling requirements, recommended intervals for lubricant changes and whether an entirely new RP is even needed.
“If we start by understanding the applications, what makes them different from a lubrication perspective, we can understand what types of lubricants are needed now and in the future for EVs,” McDonald said. “That then will hopefully lead to a discussion around what are the recommended practices if any, or updates to existing practices could also be in consideration.”
Both RPs will be considered further before the TMC fall meeting in September.
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