As global OEMs continue to develop alternative powertrain solutions to eliminate emissions, robust additive science will be key to continued adoption and success.

Decarbonization and sustainability efforts continue at scale across the globe, and several burgeoning alternative fuel technologies are having an impact throughout the transportation space.

Compressed and liquid natural gas (CNG and LNG) as well as hydrogen (H2) have shown significant promise. As alternatives to traditional diesel and gasoline, CNG, LNG and H2 can help significantly reduce emissions in all manner of vehicles, and OEMs continue to develop new internal combustion engine (ICE) hardware that can take advantage. Throughout Asia, in particular, these types of vehicles have already reached significant market penetration.

To support the continued development of cleaner transportation, specialized lubricant technology will be essential for CNG, LNG, and H2ICE hardware to deliver efficiency, reliability, and longevity. Let’s explore how and where these engines are proliferating, their unique needs compared with diesel- and gasoline-powered ICE powertrains, and how Lubrizol is supporting the growth of clean transportation around the world.

Regional Growth Throughout Asian Markets

China is the largest market for CNG/LNG vehicles. The country has made major investments in infrastructure construction in recent years, and CNG/LNG refueling stations now populate all major cities and highways. Today, these vehicles are already an integral part of the marketplace.

Elsewhere, the Chinese government has also made significant investment in its solar and wind power segment, and excess energy output from this infrastructure is now being directed into hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and H2ICE projects. FCEV technology has been commercialized in pilot projects and cities in China; in Japan, due to better compatibility, H2ICE is believed to be more promising comparing with FCEV. Additionally, the Korean government leads an initiative “Hydrogen Economy Roadmap 2040,” which aims to build out the industry value chain in the region and is in entire value chain for the industry.

New Demands for Lubricant Technology

As alternative fuel powertrains gain more traction, it is important that available lubricants can meet their specific needs.

For example, unlike diesel ICE technology, hardware designs and the nature of combustion differs significantly in CNG/LNG and H2ICE engines. Elevated ash levels and TBN levels, pre-ignition events, and greater emulsion propensity are more likely to occur here than in a diesel engine. Meanwhile, to maintain a suitable oil drain interval, engine life and cost of operation will require unique science and innovative chemistry.

Meeting the Needs of Alternative Powertrains

To meet the unique needs of these important new engine technologies, Lubrizol has worked diligently to understand the fundamentals of CNG/LNG and H2ICE engines and their combustion characteristics, and has collaborated with numerous OEMs in the space, including hardware designers, vehicle manufacturers and off-highway equipment producers.

These two-way partnerships have guided our development of additive science that can help best protect CNG/LNG and H2ICE engines, and have enabled our partners to accelerate their development. This process has led to a wealth of lab and field testing data that we will continue to leverage as the technology progresses. Based on this data, Lubrizol’s CNG/LNG and H2ICE lubricant solutions offer robust performance in a variety of demanding applications, helping to combat elevated ash and TBN, mitigate pre-ignition events, and stop emulsion, enabling reliable performance users can depend on.

Some highlights include:

Lubrizol® CV3485, a dedicated CNG/LNG additive technology, has been in use throughout the Asia Pacific since 2014.
We continue to invest in new test methods in the region to evaluate lubricant performance in CNG/LNG and H2ICE applications.
In collaboration with regional OEMs, we are developing and promoting dedicated H2ICE lubricants for the right applications versus conventional diesel products.

Further, we have seen success throughout the maturing China CNG/LNG vehicle market, with billions of miles of demonstrated real-world performance. We are ready for continued growth of these technologies—and to help them meet their full potential with additive science that overcomes technical hurdles standing in the way of widespread adoption and success.

Into the Future

We anticipate that CNG/LNG hardware will continue to proliferate as the natural gas prices and availability are expected to be steady and increasing. Within five years, it’s reasonable to expect that these technologies will make up roughly 20-25% of the commercial vehicle market.

Comparatively, the H2ICE market remains more uncertain. Some significant technical and infrastructure challenges must be overcome along the way to success. An optimistic outlook will see approximately 5-10% of diesel trucks may be replaced by hydrogen solutions, given continued regulatory pressure and decarbonization efforts around the world.

Lubrizol will continue to invest in these segments while proactively developing necessary solutions for our partners. Our purpose to deliver sustainable solutions to advance mobility around the world, and we will continue to work to make a more sustainable future a reality.

This post appeared in The Breakthrough: Issue 3 - 2025

Unlocking Alternative-Fuel Mobility’s Full Potential