Lubricant for use in electric and hybrid vehicles and methods of using the same

A method of evaluating electrical characteristics of a transmission system suitable for use in an electric or hybrid vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a transmission body comprising the transmission components, wherein the transmission body and components are suitable for use in an electric or hybrid vehicle;
• providing a fresh lubricant formulation comprising:
• a base oil;
• a first gear oil additive;
• and
• a second additive,
• wherein the second additive comprises a molybdenum dithiocarbamate complex, in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of the lubricant, wherein the molybdenum dithiocarbamate additive causes a variation in the color of the lubricant in response to use of the lubricant in a transmission system for a period of time, the variation in color indicative of temperature, contact load, viscosity, or operation time, wherein the transmission components are operated under a temperature window from about 40° C. up to about 125° C., and the variation in color is not due to oxidation of the lubricant formulation;
• and
• directly contacting at least one transmission component comprising an electric motor with the fresh lubricant formulation and operating the transmission component under a set of conditions to form a used lubricant formulation;
• removing at least a portion of the used lubricant formulation from the transmission system and assigning a color for the used lubricant formulation;
• matching the color of the used lubricant formulation to a chart with a substantially similar color assigned to a control lubricant formulation created under a substantially similar set of conditions to obtain a set of matched colors;
• and
• determining a characteristic of the transmission system selected from the group consisting of a load placed on the transmission system, a temperature at which the transmission system operates, a time that the transmission system operates, and a viscosity of the fresh lubricant formulation based on the set of matched colors.