While the number of registered vehicles with alternative drives is still small compared to those with diesel and gasoline motors, new drive types are revolutionizing the car industry. LIQUI MOLY says it is intensively dealing with this topic and is launching an innovation for the market: The Hybrid Additive, a fuel additive specially developed for hybrid vehicles. In addition, the company has developed a pictogram to help identify which motor oils are suitable for these motors.
Strictly speaking, the Hybrid Additive is itself a hybrid because it combines two properties. It stabilizes the fuel quality and cleans the injection system, LIQUI MOLY says. In hybrid vehicles, the electric motor is the main drive; the combustion motor works only as an assistant. It is mostly only used for short periods.
“This results in two problems,” said David Kaiser, head of the Research and Development department at LIQUI MOLY. “The fuel remains in the tank for longer and ages more.”
An additional problem: Deposits in the injection tract because of the irregular short-term use. The newly developed Hybrid Additive keeps the gasoline quality stable, protects against deposits in the injection system and removes existing deposits, says Kaiser. “It therefore solves both problems,” he noted.
With this innovation the company underlines its development expertise in an industry undergoing major changes. LIQUI MOLY believes the automotive industry will change more in the coming 10 years than it has in the past 100. The cause for this are various megatrends, one of which is electromobility.
“Alongside quality, to us, made in Germany also predominantly means change by innovation. That’s why research has always been one of the supporting pillars of our success,” said Kaiser.
The company has been dealing with combustion motors since its formation more than 60 years ago. Considering this expertise, the company said it was obvious that electrohybrid in alternative drives had to be concentrated on next. Based on the global registration figures, hybrid vehicles are the most common of alternative drives. According to Statista and IHS Autoinsight, the gap between hybrids and purely electric vehicles will significantly increase by 2025.
“We are backing the right horse,” said Kaiser. “Because diesel motors only play a subordinate role for hybrids with a downward trend, we are launching a purely gasoline additive onto the market.”
There also is a change in lubricants, although purely an aesthetic one: The labels of the 1- and 5-liter canisters will have a hybrid pictogram added to them. This will allow car drivers and mechanics working in garages to see at a glance whether the motor oil is suitable for hybrid vehicles. Those who want to be sure can make use of the online oil guide by LIQUI MOLY.
