What is Motul’s vision for the future of its lubricants?
Motul has brought the automotive industry, what it describes, all three major steps forward in lubricants in the last 70 years, and the company believes it is in the process of bringing its vision for the future of lubricants to the market. Here’s Motul UK Sales Director, Andy Wait.
Since our earliest days – long before the automobile was even conceived – we have been an innovator in the market. In the 1950s, we made the first major leap forward in automotive lubricants: multigrade motor oil. Previous to this, people had to change lubricants in summer and winter. This new wonder product could be used all year round, in a broad range of temperatures, thereby reducing lubricant consumption and maintenance.
Motorsport had for a long time formed a vital part of the testing and development process of new products. Success in motorsport, however, requires constant innovation, and in 1966 we launched Century 2100 – the first semi-synthetic car lubricant – a product that withstood constraints and mechanical loads 10 times higher than the previous-generation mineral oil lubricants.
In 1971 we launched the world’s first fully synthetic motor oil – Motul 300V – using vegetal-derived Ester technology that had been developed for the aircraft industry. The 300V name refers to the 300 race victories that Motul cars had achieved.
A step into the future
Last year we launched our latest breakthrough range – NGEN – which we firmly believe is the formula for the lubricant for the future.
We analysed the market holistically and at the issues and trends in the industry. We observed that OEMs across the board have prioritised preservation of the environment and Community Social Responsibility and are heavily communicating their desire and determination to improve their environmental impact. In line with this and, given the large numbers of ICE vehicles that will be on our roads for many years to come, we decided to pioneer a sustainable oil range in every key aspect.
Vitally, however, we have developed lubricants that do not sacrifice performance in any respect to achieve this new level of sustainability; in fact, it is quite the opposite, as NGEN oils actually feature enhanced aspects of performance over their traditional counterparts.
NGEN’s green credentials extend to packaging, which both employs recycled plastics and is 100% recyclable.
Motul NGEN offers the opportunity for the individual to make a positive difference in sustainability when it comes to lubricating their vehicle, sure in the knowledge that this new range of lubricants will give them everything they need in terms of performance.
In 2023, when the range launched, it comprised two motorcycle oils – NGEN 5 and 7, which are designed to be used as an alternative to its very popular 5100 and 7100 series oils, and NGEN Hybrid, which is specifically designed for vehicles that use hybrid technology.
This year, it moves into the wider car market with the impending launch of NGEN 4 and 6. The new oils are compatible with vehicles that would normally use our 4100 and 6100 ranges. In more specific terms, NGEN 6 is a dedicated fuel economy formula, designed for recent vehicles powered by petrol and hybrid engines – suitable for applications requesting the latest API SP standard and ILSAC GF-6A.
NGEN 4, meanwhile, is a dedicated formula specifically designed for mid-aged vehicles powered by all fuel types. The formulation complies with ACEA A3/B4, API SP and multiple OEM approvals.
Further NGEN variants will appear over the next couple of years, including an ultrahigh performance version and heavy duty version for trucks and other HGVs.
A fluid future
We believe that the growth of EVs, as well as other alternative fuel types, means new opportunities will certainly develop; therefore, we have already looked at a ‘fluid future’ that doesn’t rely wholly on conventionally powered vehicles.
This is substantiated in a strategic partnership with Green Corp Konnection (GCK), a pioneer in carbon-free mobility solutions.
Together, we are working on enhancing battery performance and harnessing the power of hydrogen combustion. These advancements are expected to reshape the future of mobility, making it eco-friendlier and more efficient.
The partnership has already yielded some impressive results, both in terms of enhancing EV technology and with hydrogen power.
With regards to electric power, both companies have been working on immersion battery cooling using a dielectric fluid. This technology is at the forefront for BEVs and, until now, has typically been employed to cool supercomputers that generate enormous amounts of heat. In this case, the fluid is in direct contact with the battery cells, enabling better thermal management during charge and discharge cycles, as well as an improvement in the overall performance and safety of the battery and a much faster charging time.
We have demonstrated the efficacy of the dielectric fluid on several high-profile concept vehicles, including the Caterham 7EV and our own electric Lancia Delta Integrale.
Hydrogen is also coming more and more into the reckoning as a viable alternative sustainable vehicle fuel source. Again, we have been working with GCK, and the first visible results come in a project to convert diesel buses to hydrogen in the Auvergne-Rhône- Alpes region of France.
The thermal engine is replaced by a hydrogen fuel cell powering an electric motor. We take pride in providing dielectric fluid for the batteries of these new vehicles. Sixteen buses will hit the roads this year, with a target of 50 by 2026, thus heralding a promising era for new mobility.
In conclusion
Overall, we are looking at what we think will be a golden period for downstream specialist lubricant companies, such as ours, in the coming years; however, we also see ourselves more and more as a fluid technology company, with a constantly strengthening sustainable outlook through exploring new opportunities in both traditional lubricants and alternative-fuel vehicle-related fluids. There are exciting times ahead.
