Premium lubricant specialist Castrol is working closely with car makers and motorsport teams to develop its latest range of EV fluids.
With some predicting that 80 per cent of passenger cars on our roads could be EVs by 2050, EV fluids will soon become mainstream in the aftermarket space. Castrol’s own EV fluid range currently consists of Castrol ON EV transmission fluids, thermal fluids, and greases.
While ON EV Thermal Fluids and ON EV Greases are currently only available to OEMs, Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid is already available to franchised and independent workshops certified to work on EV powertrains. Available in five-litre packs, the two new products – in D1 and D2 variants – suit a wide range of EVs, helping to extend the life of the drivetrain system and enabling EVs to go further on a single charge (vs. mass-market EV factory fill fluids). The product is a high performance and highly efficient fully synthetic fluid for transmissions paired with dry e-motors, offering high levels of gear and bearing protection.
Protection and efficiency
Advanced EV Transmission Fluids deliver enhanced protection of the drivetrain and improves efficiency. Castrol EV Thermal Fluids help keep batteries cooler, even in extreme conditions, and this enables ultra-fast charging, while its EV Greases play a vital role in maintaining optimum efficiency and extending the life of vehicle components.
Patrick Bauer, senior technologist: “As greater volumes of electric vehicles enter the aftermarket, more OEMs have asked us to make an advanced EV transmission fluid available to their workshop partners to support ongoing repair and maintenance activity. While these fluids in some EVs are deemed as suitable for the lifespan of the vehicle, workshops still need to replace the fluids in the event of a repair, and there can also be a requirement to change the product early to safeguard protection in certain use cases. We have collaborated very closely with OEMs and Tier One suppliers to develop, test and deploy products to meet the required performance criteria.”
In June 2022, Castrol and bp pulse launched a new study: Switching ON the rEVolution: The road to EV readiness for markets, carmakers and consumers. The study found that in 2015, on average, just 11 per cent of R&D spend was focused on fully electric vehicles, but this has almost doubled to 21 per cent today. Automotive executives anticipate it will reach 31 per cent by 2025, almost a three-fold increase over 10 years. If hybrid vehicles are also considered, by 2025 over 70 per cent of R&D spend will be focused on EVs and hybrids according to those surveyed2.
Consumers are also switching mindsets, with 53 per cent now considering an EV for their next vehicle purchase. Amongst those who have already made the switch, 99 per cent would consider an EV for their next vehicle purchase.
According to the research, the biggest barrier slowing the industry’s transition to electric vehicles is the high cost of batteries, with 56 per cent of automotive executives citing this as a concern. The next most significant barriers were found to be the availability of charging infrastructure (43 per cent) and a lack of tech talent (40 per cent).
The launch of Castrol ON products is aligned with the company’s PATH360 strategy, which aims to help deliver a more sustainable future by saving waste, reducing carbon and improving lives. Castrol is investing in and developing products that support the world’s transition to renewable energy and the wider adoption of e-mobility.
Castrol aims to be a net zero brand by 2050 or sooner, and Castrol’s ON EV fluids are a step in this journey, with the products having been certified carbon neutral.
New lubricant for motorcycles
Castrol claims its new Act>evo 4T provides continuous protection for motorcycle engines, fighting build-up of deposits, maximising engine cleanliness and offering corrosion protection. The lubricant is suitable for all four-stroke motorcycle engines where API SL (and below) and/or JASO MA2 specifications are recommended.
The new product features ‘Actibond’ molecules that, in the company’s words, “cling to an engine’s internal components” to provide continuous protection across all stages of the ride – when starting up, when running, and even when the engine is off.
The new formulation is supposed to provide 50 per cent better wear protection for bike engines during start-up, fights the build-up of deposits to maximise engine cleanliness during operation and offers corrosion protection.
Samit Mehrotra, global brand director at Castrol, comments: “A new addition to our existing portfolio of motorcycle lubricants, Act>evo is the result of detailed in-house and industry testing to develop a product that meets exacting performance criteria and ensures superior engine protection.”
