Oil for EVs

(Images: ExxonMobil)

Did I read that headline right? Yes, an argument made by some for electric vehicles is that it will “Get us off of petroleum.”

Not so fast. But today at the Frankfurt Motor Show—where the star of the show was the VW ID.3 electric vehicle—ExxonMobil announced the launch of a line of Mobil EV fluids and greases.

Yes, ExxonMobil. “Mobility is changing and electric vehicles are becoming a greater part of the mix. Customers and OEMs are looking to optimize the range and safety performance of their electric vehicles, and ExxonMobil is uniquely positioned to deliver these benefits. This is just the start of the product and service solutions we’ll be developing to support the evolving needs of our customers,” said Russ Green, ExxonMobil’s vice president of finished lubricants.

What’s on offer? They’re offering:

• Mobil EV Therm, fluids that remove heat in battery, motor and power electronics applications.
• Mobil EV Drive, lubricants for gears and bearings in EV reduction gearboxes.
• Mobil EV Cool Drive, which is like the above but for applications where electric motors are integrated with the gearboxes and so it cools the motors and power electronics, as well.
• Mobil EV Grease, which is for things like electric motors, bearings and CV joints.

And this consists of. . ? According to ExxonMobil, this product range “contains molecules carefully selected and blended to help battery electric vehicles travel further between charges, extend component life and operate more safely.” Molecules.