SUSTAINABILITY
Accelerating EV charging
Direct immersion cooling also unlocks the potential for extreme fast-charging, thanks to its ability to rapidly dissipate heat. EV owners are not interested in long wait times just to charge their vehicle— they want to get back on the road fast. However, the charging process is another rapidly evolving area in electric mobility— and it extends far beyond batteries themselves.
Charging cables can help promote vehicle performance and infrastructure safety. A key challenge for EV charging cables is balancing durability, flexibility and safety in a variety of different temperatures all while adjusting to charging infrastructure that supports higher voltages and faster charge times.
TPU cables meet all these demands— delivering a resilient, high-performance and flame-retardant solution built to withstand the elements while supporting the next generation of fast-charging EV systems. The properties of TPU aid in thermal management by not trapping or holding heat after a long charging cycle. Fast charging can generate heat up to 350 + kW, and the molecular properties of TPU cables let them cool quickly in contrast to traditional materials.
TPU cables like Lubrizol’ s Estane EV maintain their structure and insulating properties at these high temperatures, preventing melting, deformation and failure during extended charging times. In addition, their material integrity contributes to the cable’ s high abrasion resistance and mechanical strength.
TPU charging cables also offer a host of sustainability benefits: they’ re halogen-free and low in toxicity, reducing harmful emissions and supporting cleaner air and safer manufacturing environments. They are also engineered for easy processing, which supports an efficient manufacturing cycle and reduction in raw material costs.
Advancing driveline e-fluids
Advanced e-driveline designs are also driving enhancements in lubricating technology. Today’ s e-fluids must be carefully engineered to protect new e-driveline components as OEMs constantly push for higher power density, higher speeds and higher voltages in their drivetrains, all while making these components smaller and lighter weight.
In addition, e-driveline components uniquely contain more copper for electrical conductivity. However, this increased electrical load accelerates corrosion, compromising a component’ s durability and performance as well as the vehicle’ s safety. Bespoke e-fluids, combined with direct immersion cooling, combat these challenges by forming a first line of defense to protect e-driveline components from heat and wear, while enhancing efficiency and delivering high performance.
To better assess the strength of e-fluids in protecting copper under extreme conditions, Lubrizol scientists developed a new wire corrosion test for evaluating how well e-fluids protect copper under real-world conditions. Unlike outdated, visual-based tests, this method uses quantitative electrical resistance measurements to detect corrosion with precision. It also simulates both liquid and vapour-phase exposure, making it a more accurate reflection of real EV operating environments.
Improved test methods like this ensure that Evogen additives and e-fluids provide the high performance expected of a dedicated e-driveline lubricant. This includes improved copper corrosion protection and enhanced electrical properties while maintaining gear and bearing protection. Each e-fluid is also tailored to meet the specific demands of an OEM’ s electric drive unit design. The wire corrosion test is also undergoing an ASTM accreditation process to be adopted by OEMs and testing labs globally.
Paving the way for sustainable mobility
As this revolution accelerates, it is important for true innovators to help shape its direction. As well as e-fluids, thermal management and material science Lubrizol’ s chemistries can help the automotive industry forge ahead to create a cleaner, more sustainable future.
This approach extends to renewable fuel technologies— an often overlooked, yet critical component of the sustainability puzzle. Renewable fuels are vital for hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty transport and aviation vehicles.
Products like SulfrZol 54 enable the production of cleaner alternatives like renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Fuels made from plant oils, animal fats and waste materials reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy security while promoting a circular economy. ●
J j
Shannon Bell
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER – SUSTAINABILITY
LUBRIZOL shannon. bell @ lubrizol. com www. lubrizol. com
JUL / AUG 2025 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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