Electric vehicle grease

Abstract

A lubricating grease for electric vehicle applications includes thickener 6% by weight (wt. %) to 12 wt. %, lubricating oil 57 wt. % to 92.98 wt. %, and surface-active ester 1 wt. % to 10 wt. %. The lubricating grease also includes additives including friction reducer and modifier 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %, anti-wear agent 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %, and a balance of extreme pressure agent, oxidation inhibitor, and corrosion inhibitor.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A lubricating grease for electric vehicle applications comprising:
 a thickener in a range of 6% by weight (wt. %) to 12 wt. %;   a lubricating oil in a range of 57 wt. % to 92.98 wt. %;   a surface-active ester in a range of 1 wt. % to 10 wt. %, the surface-active ester comprising a synthetic copolymer of alpha-olefins and dicarboxylic acids esterified with short to medium chain alcohols comprising about 3 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein the surface-active ester is an oil with a carbon backbone with two distinct side chains, the first side chain is hydrophobic, and the second side chain is polar; and   additives comprising:
 a friction reducer and modifier in a range of 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %; 
 an anti-wear agent in a range of 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %; and 
 a balance of extreme pressure agent, an oxidation inhibitor, and a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the lubricating grease has a bulk KV 40 of about or less than 10 cSt and a bulk KV 100 of about or less than 2 cSt. 
   
     
     
         22 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the thickener comprises lithium or lithium complex thickener. 
     
     
         23 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the thickener comprises polyurea thickener. 
     
     
         24 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil is selected from API (American Petroleum Institute) groups I, II, and V oils. 
     
     
         25 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil is selected from API groups III and/or IV oils. 
     
     
         26 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the lubricating oil comprises an oil blend of ISO VG 10, ISO VG 68, ISO VG 150, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the surface-active ester has a range of viscosities of KV 40=75 cSt to 800 cSt and KV 100=10 cSt to 75 cSt. 
     
     
         28 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the surface-active ester has a range of viscosities of KV 40=200 cSt to 400 cSt and KV 100=15 cSt to 40 cSt. 
     
     
         29 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21  is configured to contribute to up to 10% power savings per lubricated component. 
     
     
         30 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21  is a National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) #2 consistency grade. 
     
     
         31 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the surface-active ester comprises an ester blend of KV 40=100 cSt, an ester blend of KV 40=200 cSt, an ester blend of KV 40=300 cSt, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the
 the thickener comprises a lithium or lithium complex thickener 10 wt. %;   the lubricating oil comprises ISO VG 10, API groups I, II, and/or V mineral oil blend 74.5 wt. %;   the surface-active ester comprises a 100 cSt ester blend 8 wt. %;   the friction reducer and modifier comprise antimony dithocarbamate 2 wt. % and organic long chain ester 1 wt. %;   the anti-wear agent comprises dialkyldithiocarbamate 1.5 wt. %;   the extreme pressure agent comprises dithiophosphate 1 wt. %;   the oxidation inhibitor comprises aryl amine 1 wt. %; and   the corrosion inhibitor comprises 400 TBN calcium sulfonate 1 wt. %.   
     
     
         33 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the
 the thickener comprises a lithium or lithium complex thickener 10 wt. %;   the lubricating oil comprises ISO VG 10, API groups III and/or IV synthetic oil blend 74.5 wt. %;   the surface-active ester comprises a 100 cSt ester blend 8 wt. %;   the friction reducer and modifier comprise antimony dithocarbamate 2 wt. % and organic long chain ester 1 wt. %;   the anti-wear agent comprises dialkyldithiocarbamate 1.5 wt. %;   the extreme pressure agent comprises dithiophosphate 1 wt. %;   the oxidation inhibitor comprises aryl amine 1 wt. %; and   the corrosion inhibitor comprises 400 TBN calcium sulfonate 1 wt. %.   
     
     
         34 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the
 the thickener comprises a polyurea thickener 10 wt. %;   the lubricating oil comprises ISO VG 10, API groups I, II, and/or V mineral oil blend 74.5 wt. %;   the surface-active ester comprises a 100 cSt ester blend 8 wt. %;   the friction reducer and modifier comprise antimony dithocarbamate 2 wt. % and organic long chain ester 1 wt. %;   the anti-wear agent comprises dialkyldithiocarbamate 1.5 wt. %;   the extreme pressure agent comprises dithiophosphate 1 wt. %;   the oxidation inhibitor comprises aryl amine 1 wt. %; and   the corrosion inhibitor comprises 400 TBN calcium sulfonate 1 wt. %.   
     
     
         35 . The lubricating grease of  claim 21 , wherein the
 the thickener comprises a polyurea thickener 10 wt. %;   the lubricating oil comprises ISO VG 10, API groups III and/or IV synthetic oil blend 74.5 wt. %;   the surface-active ester comprises a 100 cSt ester blend 8 wt. %;   the friction reducer and modifier comprise antimony dithocarbamate 2 wt. % and organic long chain ester 1 wt. %;   the anti-wear agent comprises dialkyldithiocarbamate 1.5 wt. %;   the extreme pressure agent comprises dithiophosphate 1 wt. %;   the oxidation inhibitor comprises aryl amine 1 wt. %; and   the corrosion inhibitor comprises 400 TBN calcium sulfonate 1 wt. %.   
     
     
         36 . A method of lubricating components in an electric vehicle, comprising
 applying a lubricating grease in the components in the electric vehicle, wherein the lubricating grease comprises:
 a thickener in a range of 6% by weight (wt. %) to 12 wt. %; 
 a lubricating oil in a range of 57 wt. % to 92.98 wt. %; 
 a surface-active ester in a range of 1 wt. % to 10 wt. %, the surface-active ester comprising a synthetic copolymer of alpha-olefins and dicarboxylic acids esterified with short to medium chain alcohols comprising about 3 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein the surface-active ester is an oil with a carbon backbone with two distinct side chains, the first side chain is hydrophobic, and the second side chain is polar; and 
 additives comprising:
 a friction reducer and modifier in a range of 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %; 
 an anti-wear agent in a range of 0.1 wt. % to 5 wt. %; and 
 a balance of extreme pressure agent, an oxidation inhibitor, and a corrosion inhibitor, 
 
   
       wherein the lubricating grease has a bulk KV 40 of about or less than 10 cSt and a bulk KV 100 of about or less than 2 cSt. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the components comprise wheel bearings, constant velocity joints, universal joints, electric motor bearings, or any combinations thereof.