The 5th Industrial Revolution is focused on enhancing human well-being and improving living conditions, a vision closely tied to sustainable development. Companies today aim to balance social, economic, and environmental goals. Electric vehicles fit perfectly into this framework and it is no secret that the future of mining, farming, and transportation is making this transition.

Electric vehicles bring several key advantages, particularly in demanding environments like underground mining. They are energy-efficient, cost-effective, and maintain strong mobility even in challenging terrain. Beyond operational benefits, EVs produce lower carbon emissions and less particulate matter, improving air quality. When paired with renewable energy and battery recycling technologies, their environmental impact is further reduced. Life cycle assessments confirm that battery electric vehicles have significantly lower overall carbon emissions than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles across the full “cradle-to-grave” cycle.

How EVs Are Reshaping Lubrication Needs

While battery optimisation and energy management are dominant research topics in electric vehicle (EV) development, components critical to vehicle efficiency and reliability such as lubricating greases have received less attention. Understanding how parts interact under friction has never been more important.

Many EV components resemble those of traditional combustion engine vehicles, but operating conditions are very different. EV motors often run at higher and more variable speeds, placing unusual stresses on bearings, gears, and other moving parts. Finding the right thickeners for EV-specific applications remains an ongoing challenge. Lithium-based thickeners are currently used because of their excellent thermal stability, making them ideal for e-motor bearings. Yet, the performance of lithium greases under the unique conditions of EV motors continues to be an area of research.

The Lithium Conundrum

Lithium has long been a cornerstone of industrial lubrication. Lithium based greases have become the industry norm across mining, agricultural, and automotive sectors due to their proven reliability, thermal stability, and overall performance in demanding operating environments.

However, lithium is now playing a second, and increasingly dominant role as a critical material in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the very heart of the global transition toward electrified transport.

This creates a growing dilemma. The rapid rise of electric vehicles is set to drive global lithium demand to nearly three times its current levels by 2030. While this surge supports the energy transition, it also places pressure on industries that have traditionally depended on lithium for lubrication. The grease industry may face rising raw material costs, tighter supply chains, and increased competition for a resource it has relied on for decades.

This raises an important question for manufacturers and lubricant formulators alike:

Will lithium-based greases remain the standard for both conventional industries and EV applications, or will alternative thickener technologies need to emerge to support sustainable long-term growth?

Lithium greases offer a well-established balance of performance, durability, and versatility, qualities that industries trust. Yet the evolving demand landscape may drive innovation toward new formulations that reduce dependency on lithium while maintaining or improving lubrication performance.

As the EV revolution continues to reshape transportation and industry, the lubrication sector must adapt, balancing performance, cost, and supply resilience to keep electric vehicles, as well as mining, agricultural, and automotive equipment, operating efficiently and cost effectively in a changing world.

References:

Hristova, T. (2024). Tracking mining company electric vehicles for sustainable development optimization using Distributed Ledger Technologies. Journal of Sustainable Mining, [online] 23(3), pp.299–314. doi:https://doi.org/10.46873/2300-3960.1425.

Pan, Zhaoyi. Supply and Demand: Global Lithium Industry Analysis and Forecasts. 1 Jan. 2025, papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5343235, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5343235.