Electrical Vehicle Shaft Grounding Solutions from Inpro/Seal

The Rise of Electric Vehicles

Around the world, government policy is driving significant investment and growth in electric vehicles as they produce zero tailpipe emissions and offer the added benefits of increased fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs compared to conventional vehicles – when maintained properly.

A key element of a well-maintained electric vehicle is proper shaft grounding.

Electric Vehicle Shaft Grounding

Electric vehicle motors use inverters/controllers to convert DC power to AC power and change rotational speed allowing for a range of speeds and reverse operation. These changes in speed cause circulating currents that build an excessive charge on the shaft. Without proper grounding, the current will discharge to ground through the bearings, causing Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), which leads to excessive vibration, noise, and premature failure.

Ceramic bearings are a common solution deployed by electric vehicle and motor manufacturers. But, ceramic bearings only reduce some of the current discharge and often pass the remaining harmful currents to coupled equipment.

Proven Shaft Grounding Solutions

Inpro/Seal offers several cost-effective solutions designed to protect against EDM, increasing motor and vehicle reliability.

The Inpro/Seal CDR (Current Diverter Ring) effectively diverts harmful shaft currents away from the bearings, directing them to ground. This prevents extreme bearing damage which causes vibration, noise and vehicle breakdown. Its proven design provides long-lasting protection for difficult-to-access electric motor bearings, offers a variety of mounting configurations and material options to fit the complexity of the vehicle design, and performs in wet or dry environments without impacting longevity.

For severe-duty environments, the robust design of the Inpro/Seal MGS (Motor Grounding Seal) combines shaft grounding capabilities with Bearing Isolator technology to eliminate lubrication leakage and bearing contamination.

Applications

Inpro/Seal Shaft Grounding Solutions increase reliability across a wide range of commonly used electric vehicle motor configurations, including:

Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors
Induction Motors
Switch Reluctance Motors

These solutions provide superior bearing protection on vehicles ranging from class 1 passenger electric vehicles to Class 8 Heavy Duty Commercial electric vehicles.

Downloads

To learn how it works, watch our Shaft Grounding video.

Ready to Get Started?

Count on us to improve electric vehicle reliability by diverting harmful shaft currents to ground, away from the bearings. Our Shaft Grounding solutions combine proven technology with innovative features to ensure superior bearing protection.

Complete the short form below to contact our electric vehicle specialist.