abstract
- This chapter focuses on presenting and discussing some of the emerging tribological test methods and machines capable of quickly evaluating lubricants and materials under electrified contact conditions that are very typical of the shaft current/voltages encountered in actual electric vehicles¿ drivelines. To provide a better understanding of the specific operation and application conditions of such methodologies and testers, we describe two specific case studies. These cases (i.e., pin-on-disk and four-ball test configurations) crudely correspond to the tribological evaluations of lubricants and materials used in bearings and gear systems operating under electrified conditions. Overall, this chapter exemplifies how contact electrification can influence the tribological behavior of driveline materials and lubricants. The knowledge gained could be very useful in understanding the underlying friction and wear mechanisms, which will be very important for the optimization of such materials and lubricants for higher efficiency and reliability of future EVs. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.