Freewheel Clutches for Electric Vehicle Motors

GMN Bearing USA’s ABEC 7 high precision ball bearings are made for high speed and heavy load applications.

GMN angular contact bearings (spindle bearings) are expertly crafted for speed, precision, & accuracy.

GMN radial ball bearings are versatile, great in small spaces & when axial loads move in both directions.

We know that not every application requires super, high-precision bearings. We stock other industrial parts from quality brands.

Our one-way sprag clutches are great for applications with low to high torque capacity.

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports HEAVY loads & has a high torque capacity: 53 to 588 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 10 to 60 mm (0.393 to 2.362 in)

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports MEDIUM loads & low to medium torque capacity: 53 to 267 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 17 to 40 mm (0.669 to 1.57 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Good for large orders & low to high torque needs: 1 to 2673 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 2 to 240 mm (0.078 to 9.448 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Has no RPM limits & Supports high torque needs: 609 to 14,060 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 38.09 to 220 mm (1.499 to 8.66 in)

This heavy-duty clutch (aka a hold-back clutch) is good for high torque operations and ensures motion freezes in place. Bore (ID) sizes: 15 to 40 mm. (0.59 to 1.73 in)

Designed for HEAVY-DUTY applications that require tough durability.

Our non-contact labyrinth seals are the first line of protection for bearing systems.

The best protection for your bearing. Easy to install with a simple “drop-in” next to your bearing. No added space needed. CF seals offer 100% sealing efficiency against splashing liquids.

Protection against low contamination & splashing liquids.

Designed with grooves in the outer ring to offer more protection (than our L-type seal) against contamination and direct spray liquids. Liquid gets pushed out through outer grooves when in rotation.

Our GMN Gap Seals are plastic and a great choice for washdown applications, such as food conveyors and food manufacturing facilities

Reduced drag means more battery life!

The adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is widespread, politically incentivized, and touching just about every industry worldwide. Particularly in light-duty trucks and autonomous movers.

These industries are growing faster than ever with the advancements in vehicle/drivetrain efficiencies, growth in ‘last mile’ demand, and environmental awareness.

Benefits of Sprag Clutches for Electric Vehicles

There are many advantages to EVs & Hybrid EVs (HEVs) when compared with gas-powered engine vehicles, including lower operating costs, reduced emissions, and smoother, quieter operation.

Even with material and other efficiency gains, the pesky battery life challenge persists. EV manufacturers are challenged to design vehicles that not only conserve as much energy as possible but also regenerate energy whenever imaginable.

‘Hello’ GMN clutches—a high precision, mechanical solution that reduces electrical waste in the form of motor drag during deceleration.

Made in Germany, GMN brand freewheel clutches offer a versatile solution to EVs battery life quandary. Utilizing a GMN Sprag clutch can extend battery life up to ~10% when properly integrated into a vehicle design. This is ensuring little to no electrical drag, pulling precious battery juice during deceleration cycles.

For more information on the benefits of electric vehicles, give our engineers a call!

How GMN Freewheel Clutches Work for EV Motors

On an EV, the battery powers the motor(s) and all electronics on board. This is the reason that battery technology (range) is talked about the most compared to any other groundbreaking tech inside EVs – airless tire, lidar/radar/cameras, 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds, etc.

Within an EV, a GMN sprag clutch can be used near the motor or within the drivetrain to reduce the electrical drag and increase battery life. This can be within/near a motor in the wheel(s), motors that drive multiple wheels, or combinations thereof in gearing systems.

The GMN Insert Element Clutch, which happens to be the highest torque to envelope in the industry, can also be utilized more traditionally within the gearbox/transmission.

Currently traditional ICE car transmissions employ Sprag Insert Elements to drive the correct gearing and overall speed of the vehicle. Many current ICE vehicle transmissions include multiple Sprag Insert Elements for different gears/ratios.

In an EV with a multi-speed transmission, an Insert Element Clutch is used similarly to current ICE vehicle technology, to engage & disengage the different gears.
As can be seen, a GMN Sprag Insert Element can be optimized in many locations of light-duty trucks and autonomous movers.

Contact GMN Bearing USA to Improve Your EV Design

If we’ve sparked your imagination, let’s talk! Our geeky GMN Bearing USA engineers are ready to support your EV efforts.

GMN Sprag Clutches Give EVs a Jolt

Reduced drag means more battery life!

Benefits of Sprag Clutches for Electric Vehicles

How GMN Freewheel Clutches Work for EV Motors

Contact GMN Bearing USA to Improve Your EV Design

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