Magnet wire manufacturer Essex, supplier of motor wiring for EVs like the Nissan LEAF, has introduced a high-temperature insulation for the windings of traction motors used in hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs.

Essex’s EnduroTemp 260+ is a thin-film insulation with a 265° C thermal endurance. It’s designed to extend the life of traction motors by, in part, protecting them from deterioration caused by modern power electronics.

The company says that as EV manufacturers continually seek to increase EV efficiency and the performance requirements of traction motors and generators, motor deterioration is increasing. The increasing standards force designers to use power electronic speed control with higher voltages and faster switching frequencies, which puts stress on the windings of a motor. EnduroTemp 260+ is meant to protect motor windings against this deterioration.

The insulation comes from Essex’s MagForceX Innovation Center, where the company researches technologies that impact magnet wire, including thermosets, thermoplastics, and additives, as well as conductor processing and fabrication processes.

Essex VP Matthew Leach said the product is the latest in a line of development for the EV market. “EnduroTemp 260+ is the very type of disruptive technology that we are looking to develop to help the magnet wire industry continue to evolve,” he said. “Being able to increase the temperature threshold without sacrificing performance – in fact, helping to increase it – is something that is very exciting for our team.”

SEE ALSO: A closer look at wire in EVs

Source: Essex