• The thickener component is only found in grease formulations and provides its unique physical properties including its consistency.


• Thickener type and amount determine a range of properties from mechanical and thermal stability to water resistance and texture.


Automotive trends impacting grease development In recent decades, the automotive sector has made significant strides to reduce vehicle emissions and enhance fuel efficiency resulting in modern engine oils being formulated quite differently from the traditional multi-grades of 40 years ago.


In pursuit of improved fuel economy viscosities have decreased markedly and in support of reducing the production of harmful emissions and particulates, the levels of sulphur and phosphorus containing components has also been lowered considerably.


These changes have seen the automotive sector move, progressively away from using Group I base oil technology to the more refined, cleaner and more stable Group II and III oils alongside synthetic oils where appropriate.


This shift has already contributed to a changing base oil pool and the closure of several Group I refineries and with future investment expected to be minimal for those that remain, the availability of this technology in the long term is uncertain.


This provides a headache for the lubricating grease industry given formulations still rely heavily on Group I base oils and Brightstock to deliver the cost-effective, higher viscosity grades typically required of most grease applications.


Fortunately, this is a trend that has been gathering momentum gradually meaning adoption of the alternatives is already underway as is the availability of new technology that will further support the next generation of lubricating greases.


Without any doubt, the automotive trend that has impacted the grease industry (as well as its own) most in recent years has been the rapid growth of the EV market.


Lithium thickener technology is fundamental to the 22 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.188 AUGUST 2025


majority of grease formulations, so the sudden increase in demand for lithium as a core component in EV battery technology brought with it unprecedented challenges in the form of both price rises and supply uncertainty.


From an application perspective the volume of grease required for EVs is largely unchanged compared with the needs of ICEs.


What has changed for greases with the emergence of the EV market is certain elements of product performance.


With the absence of an engine leading to quieter vehicles, there may be a heightened demand for low noise greases in certain applications.


Similarly with electric motors powering drive to the wheels, there have been unique challenges for greased wheel bearings linked to static build-up and uncontrolled discharge that require management.


Energy efficiency and durability are not new requirements for lubricants generally, however, their value has perhaps been amplified in light of their recognised links to sustainability benefits.


So, how is the grease industry responding?


Reducing our reliance on lithium When Clarence Earle first filed his US Patent application for the use of Lithium salts as a grease thickener in the 1940s, he could never have predicted how dominant the technology would become nor for how long.


Combining properties that enable application versatility and performance longevity in a cost-effective package, lithium thickened greases have enjoyed in excess of a 70% share of the global grease market for well over half a century.


Over the last few years, the annual NLGI Grease Production Survey has continued to reflect lithium’s dominance. However, recent supply chain and pricing pressures on lithium, due to the reasons outlined above, have prompted grease producers and consumers alike to explore the alternatives.


On-going uncertainty as to whether Lithium Hydroxide may soon be classified as Reproductively Toxic is doing nothing to ease scrutiny.


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