Discover more in our interview with Rafe Briton, The Lubrication Expert, and David Hall, Chief Technology Officer at Gulf.
Key summary
- The lubricants industry is rapidly innovating to support EV and hydrogen technologies through advanced chemistry and new testing methods.
- Close collaboration with OEMs is essential to develop solutions alongside evolving vehicle technologies.
- Faster research and development and commercialisation are driving more agile, adaptable lubricant development in a changing market.
The adoption of EVs and hydrogen-powered vehicles has risen rapidly in recent years. However, new powertrains require a new approach to lubrication. The lubricants industry is a key enabler of innovation, so it’s constantly adapting the chemistry of lubricant formulations, testing and developing products to support new technologies.
We’ll explore how we’re working with OEMs to formulate new lubricants to support hydrogen and electric-powered vehicles.
How the lubricants industry is adapting
The lubricants industry has a ‘toolbox’ of chemistry, built over decades, which we are now using to adapt new technologies. This involves:
- Gaining access to new hardware
- Developing new testing and screening methods
- Applying and evolving existing chemical knowledge
Innovation is about refining and reapplying existing knowledge and expertise in new ways to support new technologies.
The challenge of hydrogen engine development
Hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICEs) are still in the early stages of development, so the challenge lies with new technologies constantly changing due to a lack of fixed standards. This means there is no stable baseline for lubricant formulation, and a continuous need to adapt as engine technology evolves. With this in mind, lubricants must evolve in parallel with engine development, so working closely with OEMs is essential.
Working without a fixed rulebook
Because technology is developing rapidly and OEM requirements are constantly changing, this creates uncertainty within the market. This becomes challenging for lubricant developers because it is difficult to plan and develop long-term solutions. However, this does present an opportunity because the need to work flexibly and innovatively becomes a competitive advantage.
Collaboration between lubricant companies and OEMs
Through developing specialised lubricants for new technologies, forming partnerships with OEMs has become vital. This has involved developing lubricants jointly alongside hydrogen prototypes. This symbiotic relationship includes OEMs providing hardware and insights while lubricant companies provide the chemistry expertise and problem-solving skills. In this instance, collaboration accelerates innovation.
The changing pace of research & development
Research and development cycles are speeding up significantly in the world of lubricants and driving technology. For drivers, this means being adaptable to the fast-paced rollout of new vehicle technologies, which adds competitive pressure. For lubricant developers, it means faster prototyping and earlier market testing.
While the speed of development can bring increased complexities, it also offers exciting opportunities for both lubrication developers and drivers of vans and trucks.
From lab to market: Faster commercialisation
As new vehicle technologies reach the market faster, lubricant solutions must also be developed and deployed at speed. This means bringing prototype fluids into real-world testing earlier, allowing manufacturers to refine performance and respond quickly to evolving demands.
Innovation as a continuous journey
The lubricant industry is not static, as it is always evolving to complement emerging vehicle technologies. As EV and hydrogen vehicle technologies grow, lubricants will remain critical to enabling performance and reliability. Success depends on innovation, collaboration and adaptability, so working alongside OEMs is crucial to developing lubricants that really work alongside new technologies.