E-Fluids: Opportunities and challenges for lubricant manufacturers
Jun 22, 2021
Electric vehicle (EV) technology is transforming the world of transportation at an increasingly fast pace. With this shift, lubricant manufacturers must keep pace to ensure proper fluid management in the variety of vehicles coming to market. Some of the essential lubricants are new since hardware configurations have changed, and high-performance fluids and lubricants are even more necessary than ever. Although EVs have far fewer moving parts, they still require a wide range of lubricants, greases and process oils. The global EV fluids and lubricants market size reached $1.18 million in 2020 and is expected to grow roughly 18%, according to latest analysis by Emergen Research.
With these projections, more lubricant manufacturers are creating specialized “e-fluids” to be used only in EV applications. This new technology must deliver:
- Proper electrical characteristics
- Superior corrosion protection
- Suitable thermal management
- Compatibility with new plastics
- Smooth friction performance for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) benefits
The development of e-fluids will present challenges for traditional lubricant marketers while also providing opportunities for an exciting future in the brave new world of electric mobility. To learn more about this period of transition for the lubricant industry, as innovation leads to more products well suited to hybrids and advanced ICE designs, check out the latest article from Automotive World.
Why should I care?
The shift toward EVs is an opportunity for the lubricant industry to prepare and help our customers navigate the move away from traditional lubricants to the new fluids that will support these alternative technologies. E-fluids will become more critical to the function and reliability of these vehicles.
