There’s a lot of talk in the industry about “advancing mobility” – what does that actually mean to you?

For me, it’s about applying science, innovation, data intelligence and nearly a century of Lubrizol’s industry expertise to address macro trends in mobility.

It’s also about helping to solve the challenges our customers have today through purposed-built offerings and supporting their future growth by co-developing integrated hardware and material solutions which enable greater energy efficiency, safety, reliability, value and sustainability.

Just one example is how Lubrizol science is driving change and improvement across a myriad of touchpoints in the electrification of the vehicle parc – from thermal management fluids to driveline e-axle fluids, charging cable TPUs and battery chemistry.

So just how is mobility being advanced?

Lubrizol is innovating and advancing in many ways, and I’ve already touched on electrification. Take our Advanced Additives and Formulations where high-performance lubricants, fuel additives and engine oil formulations enhance engine efficiency, reduce emissions and improve fuel economy for internal combustion engines and hybrid power plants. 

Our coatings experts are tackling the impacts of corrosion, wear and extreme temperatures through automotive coating applications to improve the durability, appearance and functionality of vehicle components.

Another innovative focus is the development of Digital Solutions. Here we’re incorporating digital technologies and data analytics to optimize product performance and maintenance. Predictive maintenance solutions and real-time monitoring systems are also being developed to extend the life of lubricants and reduce downtime for vehicles.

Advancing mobility is also about enhancing the customer experience beyond the engineering and hardware. One key trend is the evolving consumer preferences for passenger comfort and sustainability. Here our advanced materials teams are working to enable more comfortable lumbar support, more sustainable synthetic leather for seating, and more reliable paint protection film for external surfaces.

How are you ensuring you and your customers are keeping ahead of the market?

Our strong relationships with OEMs and stakeholders across the industry are a testament to our ability to adapt and lead in this rapidly changing market. This is underpinned by the fact that we’re active not just in delivering specific products and solutions but in forward thinking and seeing the bigger picture.

We work as One Lubrizol to integrate core competencies across multiple disciplines to help our customers tackle challenging technical roadblocks. Our Data Science team uses large data and modeling to support our engineering team to develop new formulated solutions for next generation engine oil, driveline fluids and gear axel greases, leveraging our wealth of data around fluid chemistry.

We’re continuously advancing and creating new solutions through our industry-leading research and testing capabilities. Beyond ensuring our innovations are effectively integrated into new vehicle designs and meet industry standards, we’re also supporting our OEM and key partners to address upcoming regulations more effectively.

Our experience in applying dielectric thermal fluids in racing enables us to address new regulations targeting systems reliability problems derived from water+glycol leaking into Li-ion battery pack and electrical components. Our immersion cooling experience gives us the confidence to help OEMs develop thermal systems that can suppress Li-ion battery fires which minimizes impact to personal safety and asset losses. Application of immersion cooling can further ease repair and recycling of Li-ion battery packs leading to greater life cycle management.

Our worldwide production and supply capabilities are rooted in regional and local understanding. Our network of manufacturing facilities globally gives us a local presence which guarantees consistent and premium-quality delivery of our products to customers.

What’s particularly energizing you in this field at the moment?

I’m proud of Lubrizol’s partnerships with industry leaders across key regions in lowering carbon emission through the development and application of electrification and alternative fuel technologies. From the heart of the drive unit to the tip of charging cable, Lubrizol is innovating new material technologies that will further enhance the performance, reliability, safety and sustainability of electrified vehicles for passenger, commercial and off-highway applications.

Our EVOGEN™ e-driveline fluids provide outstanding efficiency and durability for battery electric vehicles. Our Electro-Rite™ battery chemistry portfolio is used by leading Li-ion battery producers to meet stringent performance and reliability standards. Our ESTANE® TPUs (thermoplastic polyurethane) are specially formulated for EV charging cables making them more wear resistant and more pliable for use by end-users.

The journey toward a more sustainable and efficient future is well underway, and it is an exciting time to be part of this dynamic shift. As these innovations converge, they’re not only promising cleaner, greener opportunities but also redefining the essence of mobility.