The Impact of New Energy Development on the Bearing Bush Industry

With the increasing global demand for clean energy, the new energy industry is developing rapidly. This has a direct impact on the traditional fuel vehicle industry. As one of the key components of automobile engines, bearing bushes may face a decline in market demand with the popularization of new energy vehicles.

The rapid development of the new energy industry brings both challenges and new opportunities to the bearing bush industry. The specific impacts can be analyzed from the following aspects:

Challenges brought by the shrinking traditional internal combustion engine market

The popularization of new energy vehicles (pure electric, hydrogen fuel, etc.) has reduced the production of traditional fuel vehicles, leading to a gradual decline in the demand for bearing bushes used in internal combustion engines. Bearing bushes in parts such as crankshafts and connecting rods are no longer needed in pure electric vehicles.

Industry transformation pressure: Traditional bearing bush enterprises need to adjust their product structure and transform to components related to the new energy field; otherwise, they may face the risk of market shrinkage.

New opportunities in the new energy field

(1) Hybrid vehicles

Transitional demand: Hybrid vehicles still retain internal combustion engines, but their working conditions are more complex (frequent start-stop, high load), requiring higher-performance bearing bushes (such as wear-resistant and low-friction coating technologies).

Technological upgrading: Bearing bush enterprises need to develop lightweight and low-friction products suitable for hybrid systems.

(2) Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Air compressors and hydrogen circulation pumps: Key components in hydrogen fuel cell systems (such as air compressors and hydrogen circulation pumps) require high-speed, corrosion-resistant sliding bearings (bearing bushes), and the materials need to resist hydrogen embrittlement and humid environments.

Emerging market: The expansion of the hydrogen energy industry chain may bring demand for high-end bearing bushes.

(3) Wind power and energy storage equipment

Wind turbines: Large wind turbines' gearboxes and main shafts require high-reliability bearing bushes that can withstand extreme weather and have a long service life.

Energy storage systems: Some mechanical energy storage devices (such as flywheel energy storage) may also require customized bearing bushes.

(4) Supporting demand for electrified components

Motor bearings: Although electric vehicle motors mostly use rolling bearings, sliding bearings (such as oil-impregnated bearing bushes) may be used in some high-speed or heavy-load scenarios, especially for shock absorption in integrated designs.

Reducers and transmission systems: Bearing bushes in electric vehicle reducers need to meet the requirements of high speed and low noise.

Directions for technological upgrading

Material innovation: Developing new composite materials (such as carbon fiber reinforcement, ceramic coatings) and self-lubricating materials (to meet maintenance-free needs).

Process improvement: Precision machining technologies (such as nano-coatings) to reduce friction loss and improve energy efficiency.

Intelligent monitoring: Integrating sensors to monitor the wear status of bearing bushes in real-time, meeting the high reliability requirements of new energy equipment.

Industrial chain collaboration

Cooperation with main engine manufacturers: Bearing bush enterprises need to participate in the research and development of new energy vehicle companies in advance to custom-design components (such as hydrogen-resistant bearing bushes for hydrogen fuel systems).

Cross-industry competition: Bearing giants (such as SKF) have already laid out in the electric vehicle field, so traditional bearing bush enterprises need to accelerate their technical reserves.

Environmental protection and sustainable development

Green manufacturing: The new energy industry has higher environmental protection requirements. The production of bearing bushes needs to reduce the use of heavy metals (such as lead and cadmium) and promote pollution-free processes.

Recycling: The metal recycling of waste bearing bushes may be coordinated with the new energy battery recycling industry chain.

Conclusion

The development of new energy presents both "risks and opportunities" for the bearing bush industry:

In the short term: The market for bearing bushes in traditional fuel vehicles will gradually shrink, and enterprises need to digest excess production capacity.

In the long term: The demand for high-end bearing bushes in new energy equipment (hydrogen energy, wind power, hybrid power, etc.) will grow, and technologically leading enterprises are expected to seize new tracks.