‘Retuning’ lubricants FOR EV DUTY

Lubrizol's top grease expert talks about how the electric vehicle trend is driving innovations and creating opportunities.

“My focus is lubricating grease; I've been doing it for 32 years,” explained Dr. Gareth Fish with a high degree of pride. Lubrizol's top expert on the subject. Globally recognized in the lubricants field, Dr. Fish has authored more than 70 technical papers on grease and tribology and has four U.S. patents. He finds the industry's shift to electrified vehicles and its impact on automotive greases “an extremely interesting and challenging time.”

Broad challenges include strategic supply - the lubricants industry competes with the battery industry for lithium - and sustainability by reducing grease's environmental footprint, Dr. Fish noted. Removing the internal combustion engine and its ancillary systems from vehicles is an obvious trend with major impact; Lubrizol provides the industry with significant technology development and R&D support. “Today we have 50-60 greases, about 2 kilograms (4.4 lb.) in total, on a standard, mid-size passenger vehicle,” Dr. Fish noted. “On a hybrid-electric vehicle you'll have a similar number, because the vast majority of componentry will not change. Moving to electric vehicles [EVs] there will be some significant changes, such as elimination of crankcase oil. But the overall volume of greases will stay the same as today, about 2 kilograms.”