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PortuguêsA great challenge for lubricant manufacturers
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pollution is now the fifth leading cause of death. High levels of pollution in large populated areas and the most industrialised areas. This is why Europe initiated the Euro regulations in 1993, in order to set out certain maximum pollution levels in the EU that affect all vehicles fitted with motors. The Euro 6 standards are the most recent version that came into force on the 1st of September, 2015.
This new standard is particularly relevant for diesel vehicles, which must comply with an NOx (Nitrogen Oxide) emissions limit, an agent classified as carcinogenic, of 80 mg/km.
In order to meet the new regulations, engine manufacturers have had to go to great lengths to meet them and they pose a new challenge for lubricant manufacturers, such as OLIPES, whose engine oils contribute to compliance with these limits. On top of these limits, the PM particulate reduction and fuel saving objectives have to be added, ensuring maximum protection for the motor and the catalytic converter (SCR), as well as for the diesel particulates filters (DPF/FAP) that have been installed in higher-capacity diesel engines since the coming into force of Euro 4 and which we will soon see be enforced for petrol engines (GPF).
Euro VI regulations represent a new challenge in terms of the investigation into new lubrication technologies and for a manufacturer such as OLIPES it brings the opportunity of showcasing its DNA of innovation, client satisfaction and reduction of the environmental impact.
With this foundation, it is easy to understand the enormous effort made by the company, not only to adapt itself to the requirements of major automobile manufacturers in terms of lubrication for their motors and gear boxes, but also to get ahead of the needs of the market and of society. In this sense, OLIPES has a wide range of lubricants adapted to the needs of new Euro 6 drives, with more than 50 new products launched onto the market each year as part of a portfolio of more than 2,500 references aimed at 75 sectors of the markets, which are exported to more than 45 countries.
Training will be vital for professionals in the automobile sector
Since the bursting onto the scene of our society of smartphones and the incorporation of new technologies into our vehicles, the landscape around motors has changed more at a technological level in the last three years than in the previous 30. Today, technology becomes obsolete in less than one year and industrial expertise is doubling every 18 months. This means that it is necessary for a mechanic to continue their training in several areas, both in terms of managing their business as well as keeping up with repairs. The innovations that have been integrated by the sector over the last two decades, such as direct injection in diesel and petrol engines, three-way catalytic converters, EGR, valves, particulate filters, selective catalytic reduction (SCR), are nothing in comparison with what is sitting next to them: hybrid motors and electric motors that can be plugged in, automatic nine- and ten-speed gear boxes, engines adaptor for use with LPG, assisted and autonomous driving, 360 connectivity or augmented reality - these will be the great challenges to be faced by mechanics in upcoming years.
The impact of renewable energies on the market
As an initial effect, renewable energy applied to the world of motors will entail a reduction in the tonnes of lubricants sold at a global level.
This will lead to the restructuring of facilities belonging to companies in the oil sector, with the reduction of production plants manufacturing oils based on Group 1 (minerals), the starting-up of new chemical plants for the production of synthetic oils from Groups II and IV, and large investments in R&D, in order to adapt ingredient lists of existing lubricants to meet the new challenges posed by the automobile sector in mature markets, such as Europe, North America, and even Asia.
These new challenges are met in the short and medium term by manufacturing engine lubricants of increasingly lower viscosities: 0W-20, 0W-16, and now even formulations with 0W-8 viscosities are in the mix, with formulations that are ever more environmentally friendly and requiring longer times between oil changes: 50,000 km for light vehicles and 150,000 km for industrial vehicles; synthetic oils for gear boxes for lifetime lubrication (>600,000 km).
In the following table, we can see which types of lubricants the major OEM engine manufacturers are using (Factory Fill).
For 2025, it is anticipated that hybrid and electrical vehicles will occupy around 20% of global vehicle production and that Stop/Start technology will be incorporated into 60% of vehicles. The production of vehicles with conventional motors will scarcely break 20% of global production. Taking these predictions into account and the average age of the current fleet, 2025 will be a tipping point in terms of the production of vehicles powered by renewable energies and our attention is already on researching the lubricants we will need in 2040.
