Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the service life of a bearing. By means of the load spectrum of electric motor output torques under various work conditions comprising different work durations, with respect to a target work condition, utilizing the electric motor output torque corresponding to each work duration, combined with the current vibration load and mesh load of a bearing, the equivalent average load under the target work condition is calculated; thus, the service life of the bearing is determined on the basis of the equivalent average load. As such, the calculated service life of the bearing is of increased accuracy, thereby allowing an improved determination to be made on an operating state of a transmission system, thus increasing the operational reliability of the transmission system.