February Technical Meeting

ABSTRACT:
Continuous evolving electrified systems within the transportation industry have occurred at an accelerated pace.  Aerospace, heavy duty and automotive manufacturers are tasked to significantly reduce carbon emissions.  Various EV designs that are being developed have both strengths and weaknesses.  Proper lubrication and cooling have been key to ensure the proper performance of any vehicle.  High speed electric vehicle and hybrid systems are experiencing significant wear and even pitting conditions.  The lack of lubrication in some areas occurs from foam and air entrainment.  In some designs, if the electric motor and its corresponding electronics are in contact with lubricant or its ensuing vapor.  This raises concerns regarding copper corrosion and the potential formation of conductive deposits on critical parts.  Other areas require immense cooling systems that have a propensity to cause other potential failures.  There are hybrid systems that incorporate both technologies, but some are attempting single source coolant and lubrications systems.

In this presentation we will review a few new tools that are available or being developed to evaluate lubricant performance for this technology.  Subsequent shortcomings to access lubricant suitability for electrified drivetrains will also be demonstrated.  We discuss the collaborative efforts to standardize these test methods and make them widely available.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY:

Greg Miiller has worked around the globe for the transportation industry over the past 28 years. With both scientific and advanced business degrees, his R&D career has progressed to the Vice President of New Business and Engineering for the Savant Group. Part of that experience was enhancing the cost savings through design, process improvement and lean production methodology.

Greg has been co-awarded eighteen patents for designs on testing equipment and authored many technical papers. He is currently the 2nd vice chair of ASTM D02 and actively serves as an officer with Standards Development Organizations such as Energy Institute, the Coordinating European Council and the Society of Automotive Engineers. In 2019 Greg formed the Global Lubricants Test Standards Team that provides a communication link between specification setting organizations, standards development organizations and trade organizations from around the world.

His background in quality assurance, “5S” and “5Y”, risk analysis, ISO 90001/17025 and customer satisfaction narratives have been instrumental in his growth as a company entrepreneur. Greg is the founder of four other companies within the United States.