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TeslaGranted patentChips & hardwareInterest 4/10

Tesla patents conductive grease to ground electric drivetrain bearings

Tesla describes a special grease for electric vehicle drivetrain bearings that mixes standard lubricants with conductive additives. This mixture helps dissipate electrical currents that can build up in the bearings, preventing damage to the electric drive unit.

Why it mattersIt offers a specific chemical solution to a common wear issue in electric vehicles, helping to extend the life of internal drivetrain components.

In the filing’s own words

A conductive grease comprising a base oil, an organic lubricant additive for enhancing lubrication of the base oil, and a conductive additive for increasing electrical conductivity and thickening of the base oil. The conductive additive comprising ionic lubricant additives and/or inorganic lubricant additives. A testing method to quantitatively measure the effectiveness of conductive grease and a grounding solution utilizing the conductive grease.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A conductive grease for lubricating bearings in an electric vehicle drivetrain, the conductive grease comprising: a base oil; an organic lubricant additive for enhancing lubrication of the base oil; and a conductive additive for increasing electrical conductivity and thickening of the base oil, the conductive additive comprising at least on one of ionic lubricant additives or inorganic lubricant additives, wherein a bearing resistance of the conductive grease is 10 ohms to 10.000 ohms as measured using a 608 bearing at up to 10,000 rpm and up to 200 N load at room temperature.

Facts

Company
Tesla (Tesla, Inc.)
Official title
Conductive grease formulations and grounding solutions for electric drive unit
Patent number
US12742130B2
Application number
18958565
Filed
Nov 25, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
10
Claims
20

Classified under

C10M 169/00 Chemistry & metalsC10M 101/02 Chemistry & metalsG01N 27/07 Physics & computingG01N 33/30 Physics & computingC10M 2203/1025 Chemistry & metalsC10N 2030/02 Chemistry & metals
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.