Shell launches e-fluids for electric CVs

Shell has unveiled its new Shell E-Fluids, which have been created to support battery electric vehicle (BEV) as well as fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) powertrains for commercial light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles. According to the company, Shell works with truck and bus manufacturers to co-engineer bespoke fluids that meet the specific needs of their different electric drivetrains for their commercial vehicle models.

Shell launched e-fluids for passenger vehicles in May 2019, but now, manufacturers of all electric vehicles from passenger cars to vans to larger trucks and buses can now benefit from the extensive range of specialized Shell E-Fluids and E-Greases.

“Once added to the sealed environments of BEV or FCEV commercial vehicles, the fluids need to perform at optimum levels over the vehicle’s lifetime; this is why first fill is so important for electric vehicles,” said Carlos Maurer, executive vice president of global commercial at Shell. 

The Shell E-Fluids range for commercial vehicles consists of e-transmission fluids, e-greases and battery thermal fluids. To date, commercial vehicle manufacturers have had to predominantly rely on a range of fluids, which have been developed for internal combustion engines vehicles and do not deliver the necessary ultimate performance and efficiency for electric powered vehicles.

“We have used Shell gas to liquid (GTL) base oil technology for the Shell E-fluids portfolio because its low viscosity properties allow for higher efficiency in the vehicle’s powertrain," said Maurer. "Our lubricants research laboratories have focused on delivering cutting-edge fluid solutions to meet the specific electric drivetrain challenges of temperature control, oxidation, copper erosion and thermal conductivity.”