Plastics in electric machines: Ageing mechanisms and the development of new sustainable solutions

To improve the electric machine performance, knowledge needs to be obtained on how the local environment affects and age the wire insulation and other plastic parts.

This is an important part of the project, which will enable an optimized choice of plastic components, oil-additives and cooling.

The project involves companies from every important tier level; one producing passenger vehicles, one producing commercial vehicles (trucks and buses), a plastics producer, and a producer of transmission oil. RISE KIMAB will lead the project, KTH will be the academic partner. The wire material is obtained from a Swedish producer.

Part of the project consists of making a lab scale equipment that allows for accelerated testing of the plastics in relevant environments. The project will also involve scale-up testing in a small machine/prototype motor. A specific work package will focus on involving biobased plastic and oil in the future electric machine.