Electrification is Transforming the Market – and the Requirements for Lubricants
The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids is reshaping the automotive industry not only at the powertrain level, but also across service infrastructure and the aftermarket.
Instead of the familiar paradigm of “engine + transmission + traditional service intervals,” the market is now facing new challenges: thermal management of batteries and power electronics, noise and vibration (NVH), electrical safety, and long-term material durability when exposed to high voltages.
For many customers, this transition is more than a simple product line update. It requires a fundamental rethink of operating fluids. EVs demand highly specialized solutions for friction control, heat transfer, component protection, and compatibility with electrical systems.
Commentary by Juri Sudheimer: EV Fluids as Part of the Engineering Architecture
We asked Juri Sudheimer, founder of the MANNOL brand to comment on these changes. According to him, the most significant shift brought by electric vehicles is that operating fluids are no longer secondary consumables – they have become an integral part of the system architecture.
In EVs, a single fluid may simultaneously manage friction, dissipate heat, and protect electrical components. This is why EV product development cannot rely on the concept of a “universal oil.” Each fluid must be engineered for a specific unit configuration and electrical load.
EV Fluids: What Modern Electric Vehicles Actually Need
In electric vehicles, fluids perform fewer purely “mechanical” functions but far more “system-level” roles. The key areas include:
1. E-Transmission Fluids (e-ATF / e-DCT / e-Gear)
In most EVs and hybrids, the transmission operates alongside the electric motor and, in some cases, within the same housing as the power electronics. As a result, the fluid must simultaneously:
- provide stable viscosity and wear protection for gear sets and planetary assemblies;
- ensure controlled friction characteristics, especially at high rotational speeds (and in hybrids – for clutches and friction elements);
- offer enhanced electrical properties and dielectric stability under high-voltage conditions;
- demonstrate compatibility with copper, polymers, electrical insulation materials, varnishes, and adhesives used in electric motors;
- maintain thermal stability and low foaming to preserve heat dissipation and overall efficiency;
- contribute to effective NVH control.
2. Thermal Management Fluids
EV efficiency is directly linked to the operating temperature of the battery and power electronics. This drives demand for:
- next-generation coolants for battery systems;
- heat transfer media and specialized dielectric fluids for direct immersion cooling architectures where applicable.
Juri Sudheimer on E-Transmissions: New Risks Require New Criteria
Commenting on the evolution of e-transmission fluids, Juri Sudheimer emphasizes that combining mechanical systems with power electronics fundamentally changes lubricant requirements. As founder of MANNOL, he notes that EV fluid development presents challenges that simply did not exist in the internal combustion engine era.
Fluid degradation in EVs manifests not only through wear, but also through changes in electrical properties, effects on copper components, and increased NVH. As a result, EV fluids require a different testing philosophy, where electrical stability and material compatibility are just as critical as anti-wear performance.
Why Conventional ‘ICE-Era’ Oils Are Not Suitable
Electric vehicles redefine the risk profile. Factors that were secondary for conventional transmission oils become critical:
- electrical properties, including changes in conductivity due to aging products, moisture, and contamination;
- copper corrosion and impact on electrical components;
- foaming and aeration, which are critical for heat dissipation and efficiency;
- NVH behavior, including noise and high-frequency vibrations at electric motor speeds;
- long-term material durability, from elastomers and plastics to adhesives and varnishes.
The MANNOL Approach: Engineering Fluids Specifically for EVs
At MANNOL, EV development follows a principle well known in the OEM world: first define unit requirements and system architecture, then design the fluid as part of the system – not as a “one-size-fits-all” product.
1. Friction and Protection Research
The goal is to create additive systems and base oil matrices that deliver:
- a stable coefficient of friction across a wide temperature range;
- reliable protection of gear pairs and bearings at high speeds;
- resistance to micropitting and vibration-induced wear typical of EV loads.
2. Thermal Efficiency and System Cleanliness
Low losses, viscosity stability, and controlled heat capacity are critical for EVs. Development therefore focuses on:
- oxidative stability and resistance to aging deposits;
- effective control of aeration and foaming;
- system cleanliness and compatibility with materials such as copper, aluminum, and polymers.
3. Electrical Parameters and Component Protection
For e-transmission fluids, parameters rarely discussed in the mass aftermarket become essential:
- long-term stability of electrical characteristics throughout the service life;
- resistance to moisture and contamination without abrupt parameter degradation;
- protection of electrical and electronic components from fluid-induced deterioration.
4. Testing, Benchmarking, and Architecture Optimization
MANNOL develops EV products through a comprehensive process that includes:
- laboratory evaluation of key physicochemical properties;
- tribological and friction testing in model assemblies;
- comparative testing against market reference solutions;
- validation of compatibility with materials and components.
The EV Aftermarket: A New Phase of Service and ‘Circularity’
Electric vehicles are changing the service logic and customer expectations:
- reduced total cost of ownership (TCO);
- extended service life of major assemblies;
- transparent diagnostics and fluid condition monitoring.
Accordingly, the MANNOL EV portfolio is evolving not just as a product range, but as part of an integrated service concept:
- regular monitoring of fluid condition and degradation trends;
- operating-condition-based recommendations for service intervals;
- support for partners and service networks that require precise instructions and a clear, structured product portfolio.
Development Vector: EV Readiness Today
Electrification is not a future project – it is today’s market reality. The key competitive advantage in the aftermarket now lies in the ability to deliver solutions that:
- improve efficiency,
- protect high-value components,
- ensure stability under new physical and electrical loads,
- align with next-generation OEM architectures.
MANNOL continues to expand its EV fluid portfolio and invest in research and testing to deliver reliability, efficiency, and predictable performance in real-world operation — for customers, service partners, and vehicle fleets alike.
