E-Mobility

The Electric Mobility Industry is rapidly expanding with the rise of many new products. Electric vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, forklifts, and vehicle charging stations are just some that come to mind. As the field grows, Smalley is integral to many industry leaders in developing and supplying critical components for these applications.

How does Smalley help make a difference in the electric industry? As the leader and inventor of the Spiral Retaining Ring and Edgewound Wave Spring, Smalley’s products are trusted by engineers in over 25,000 applications.

Usage in Electric Vehicle Motors

Smalley’s retaining rings and wave springs are commonplace in electric vehicle (EV) motors. Space optimization can be as important as performance in these highly complex systems. Smalley’s Spirolox® Retaining Rings allow for compact designs without sacrificing retention force or design precision. Spirolox rings are manufactured using flat wire that is edge coiled into the circular form. The constant cross-section of this design eliminates the need for protruding installation ears typically seen on stamped snap rings. The multi-turn options also feature a gapless design with 360° of retaining surface. In the wider automotive industry, Spirolox rings are used in many applications, such as clutches, brakes, and suspensions, to name a few.

Smalley’s wave springs are an excellent fit for EVs as well. The Crest-to-Crest® Wave Spring offers unique space-saving capabilities unattainable with traditional coil springs. When switching to a Crest-to-Crest®, the spring cavity height can be reduced by up to 50% while still maintaining the same spring force and deflection. A smaller component footprint in an electric motor could translate to overall weight and cost savings and lead to a more optimized product. In addition to motors, wave springs have been used in transmissions, gearbox drives, side mirrors, and many more automotive applications.

High RPM Applications

Smalley recently developed a breakthrough product quickly gaining attention in high RPM applications. The Revolox® Self-Locking Retaining Ring builds upon the Spirolox design to help achieve higher RPM capacity. The Revolox has a built-in “dome and slot” mechanism that prevents the ring from expanding during higher rotational speeds. The ring does not require any special installation and is light in weight.

The revolutionary design is the first high-RPM ring on the market designed with automated installation in mind, making it ideal for high production volumes.

Download the Revolutionary Revolox Product Guide to learn more.

Usage in Electric Bike and Scooter Motors

Electric bikes and scooters are becoming increasingly popular modes of transportation, especially in urban environments. Engineers typically seek the most space-efficient components to maintain the highly compact designs of these devices. Smalley’s Spirolox retaining ring and wave spring product lines are sensical solutions to these applications as they can save space without compromising performance. The Spirolox retaining rings feature a slimmer profile compared to stamped snap rings with protruding installation ears. Meanwhile, Smalley’s Crest-to-Crest wave springs are engineered to perform with the same spring force and deflection as a round-wire compression coil spring - in half the height.

Customization Capabilities

While Smalley carries over 11,000 stock parts, we understand that every application is unique. Our products can be customized in various materials, sizes, and finishes to meet specific needs, such as corrosion resistance or high-temperature environments. We offer No-Tooling-Charges™ on custom parts! To ensure our products are the right fit for your application, we can get you started with product samples or prototypes.

Make Smalley an Approved Supplier

Smalley is an approved supplier for many automotive companies. Request Smalley to be an Approved Supplier for your company.