Que: Lubrizol’s portfolio includes cutting-edge additive technologies like engine oils, industrial and driveline applications. Can you share recent breakthroughs or advancements that are helping redefine performance standards?

Ans: Lubrizol is actively involved in developing advanced additive technologies to enhance the performance of lubricants and other products. Some of our recent breakthroughs and advancements include:

Lubrizol® AT9311
This automatic transmission fluid (ATF) additive is engineered for both internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). AT9311 has been developed based on flagship ATF platform which has been extensively used in the global marketplace for many years. AT9311 provides excellent protection through its oxidation resistance, anti-wear and frictional performance. The well-balanced package also provides strong anti-rust, foam control, sludge and varnish performance, and viscosity retention.

Lubrizol® PV1710
A simple, purpose-built passenger vehicle engine additive solution formulated to meet ILSAC GF-6A and GF-6B specifications.

The ongoing environmental drivers and legislation for reduced emissions and increased fuel economy continues to force changes in engine hardware design around the world. Significant changes in passenger vehicle engine technology and operating conditions have resulted from engine downsizing, gasoline direct injection (GDI), turbocharging, and gasoline particulate filters (GPF). At the same time, advances in passenger vehicle engine oils have played a vital role in enabling these performance improvements. New ILSAC engine oils are being introduced that go beyond the requirements of ILSAC GF-5 and API SN PLUS to address the following:
• Fuel economy and fuel economy retention
• Emission system compatibility
• Engine protection, including low-speed, pre-ignition (LSPI) mitigation
and cleanliness (turbocharger deposits)

These technologies reflect Lubrizol’s focus on efficiency, emissions compliance, and hybrid readiness—all critical for the evolving automotive landscape.

Que: How does Lubrizol leverage its global R&D network to stay ahead of evolving automotive and mobility trends in India?

Ans: Lubrizol’s sustainability strategy extends far beyond product chemistry. Our Lubrizol additives technology is backed by extensive laboratory trials and robust mechanical testing at our Hazelwood and Wickliffe facilities in the US. Over the past few years, the company has doubled down on its commitment in India, including the recent investment in the establishment of a Global Technology and Innovation Center in Maharashtra—a first of its kind for the organisation worldwide. This state-of-the-art hub will co-locate advanced labs, automation tools, and digital capabilities to accelerate next-generation R&D. It will also house a Customer Experience Center, enabling co-development with OEMs and industry partners to bring competitive, sustainable innovations to market faster.

This new center builds on the success of Lubrizol’s existing Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in India, including its Grease and Two-Wheeler CoE, which focuses on developing high-performance lubricants tailored to India’s unique mobility landscape. With two-wheelers dominating the country’s transportation mix, this CoE plays a critical role in formulating solutions that meet local performance, durability, and emissions standards.

Together, these initiatives position Lubrizol as a catalyst for sustainable innovation—not just in India, but across the global value chain.

Que: What sets EVOGEN™ fluids apart in terms of performance, protection, and adaptability to different e-mobility applications?

Ans: As the e-mobility landscape evolves, new vehicles pose unique lubricating and cooling challenges. Lubrizol’s EVOGEN™ fluid portfolio is designed to meet these challenges, delivering performance, protection, and efficiency for electrified vehicles.

Our product offering includes:
• Driveline e-Fluids: additive package and finished fluid
• Hybrid Engine Oils: additive package and finished fluid
• Battery Thermal Management: finished fluid

Lubrizol’s deep knowledge of surface science and broad perspective on formulating solutions enables us to develop solutions for the unique challenges posed by electrified vehicles. For example, our driveline e-fluids are designed to precisely meet the requirements of OEM electric drivetrains. We have also developed new testing capabilities such as the wire corrosion test, that more accurately represent real-life conditions, allowing us to validate our solutions.

Que: As the EV segment expands rapidly, what unique challenges do electric drivetrains pose for lubricants and thermal management—and how is Lubrizol addressing them?

Ans: The growth of all types of electrified vehicles—from mild hybrid through to full hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell—is leading to increasingly diverse vehicle drivelines in the market. Each vehicle design requires fluids to lubricate and cool hardware. And the fluid requirements differ depending on the specific hardware design.

These hardware designs pose a number of challenges and considerations for the driveline e-fluid:
- Preventing Copper Corrosion: The fluid needs to be non-corrosive and have a good corrosion inhibitor system.
- Lowering Viscosity for Heat Transfer: Low viscosity fluids increase heat transfer and efficiency, but this needs to be balanced with thermal stability and durability.
- Gear Efficiency, Durability & Aeration: Churning losses, gear contact efficiency, durability performance and aeration effects need to be considered.
- Suitable Electric Properties: Conductivity of the fluid must be optimised, (not low or high), and current leakage must be accounted for.
- Thermal Oxidation Stability & Sludge Control: Fouling prevents fluid transport mechanisms, lowers heat transfer and interferes with moving parts.
- Material Compatibility: New and different materials are used in electrified vehicles such as alloys, coatings, engineered plastics and friction materials. The fluid needs to be compatible with these.
Lubrizol's EVOGEN™ driveline e-fluid technologies are custom-designed to precisely meet these specific challenges and requirements.

These advanced fluids cater to both dry and wet motor configurations in passenger and commercial vehicles, empowering users to optimise their designs for enhanced efficiency and performance.

Features and Benefits
• Appropriately designed electrical conductivity prevents build-up of static electric charge while maintaining electrical insulation properties.
• Excellent corrosion protection of copper and other alloys immersed within the lubricant and or situated in the headspace ensures proper function of electrical components.
• Compatibility with new materials, such as magnet wire insulation and reduced-weight engineering plastics, preserves equipment longevity.
• Capability to enable lower viscosity fluid to increase electric drive unit efficiency without compromising hardware protection
• Thermal oxidation stability prevents interference of sludge and varnish with mechanical operation and oil flow.

Que: How is Lubrizol positioning its ESTANE® EV TPUs to support the EV ecosystem, particularly in charging infrastructure and cable design?

Ans: As the electric vehicle (EV) revolution gains momentum, the supporting infrastructure must evolve just as rapidly—especially in the realm of charging technologies. Lubrizol is meeting this demand head-on with its advanced ESTANE® EV thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs).

At the core of Lubrizol’s positioning is a keen focus on safety and compliance. ESTANE® EV TPUs are built on halogen-free flame-retardant technology, making them well-suited for global standards like IEC 62893 and EN 50620.

From a materials standpoint, these TPUs strike a balance between durability and aesthetics. They resist abrasion, UV exposure, and harsh weathering—ensuring that fast-charging cables maintain both integrity and appearance over time.
On the performance front, ESTANE® EV TPUs deliver low electrical gas-conductivity (below 35 µS/mm to pass the more stringent IEC 62893 standard). This becomes increasingly important as EV charging moves toward ultra-fast, high-power systems demanding both thermal resilience and robust performance.

Beyond functionality, these TPUs support a more sustainable future. Their thermoplastic nature makes them compatible with recycling streams*—an important consideration as the industry leans into circular economy principles.

Lubrizol is helping redefine what EV charging infrastructure can be: safer and more sustainable.

*Recyclability is based on access to a readily available standard recycling program that supports such materials. Products may not be available in all areas.

Que: With sustainability becoming a major driver, are bio-based or recyclable polymers on Lubrizol’s radar for the future?

Ans: As sustainability becomes a cornerstone of innovation, Lubrizol is taking decisive steps to embed environmental responsibility into its materials science strategy—particularly through the expansion of bio-based, mass balance and recyclable solutions. This shift reflects not only regulatory and market pressures but also a deeper commitment to reducing environmental impact across the product lifecycle.

At the heart of this initiative is ESTANE® ECO, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) made with 25–70 percent renewable content, depending on the grade. Derived from bio-based sources certified according to ASTM D6866, ESTANE® ECO offers the same flexibility and chemical resistance as petroleum-based TPUs and even lower density—without the carbon-heavy footprint. It’s already being used in a wide range of applications, from footwear and protective films to consumer goods, proving that sustainability and performance can go hand in hand.

Complementing this is the ESTANE® RNW series, a line of biomass-balanced TPUs that use a mass balance approach to integrate renewable feedstocks into existing production systems. These materials can deliver up to 59 percent reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional alternatives, all while maintaining the same high-performance characteristics.

The RNW portfolio includes grades tailored for flame-retardant cable jacketing and industrial components—making it a versatile solution for manufacturers looking to meet carbon reduction goals without retooling their processes.

Pearlbond™ ECO TPU complements the offering for hot melt and reactive hot melt adhesives. The latest product launch, Pearlbond ECO 590 HMS TPU, is applied in furniture, a solvent-free technology with very good adhesion to ABS and 59 percent bio-based content.

Lubrizol continues to bring sustainable solutions for the next generation of mobility, electronics, and consumer goods.