Liqui Moly turns towards alternative drives

The number of registered vehicles with alternative drives is still minimal compared to those with diesel and petrol motors, but the new drive types are revolutionising the car industry. Liqui Moly is also dealing with this topic and is launching its new Hybrid Additive fuel additive specially developed for hybrid vehicles. Furthermore, motor oils suitable for these motors are identified with a pictogram.

Strictly speaking, the Hybrid Additive is itself a hybrid, because it combines two properties. It stabilises the fuel quality and it cleans the injection system. 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,” says David Kaiser. He heads the research & development department at car chemicals specialist Liqui Moly.

“The fuel remains in the tank for longer and ages more,” says David Kaiser, compared to vehicles powered exclusively by a diesel or gasoline motor. 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. “It therefore solves both problems,” says Kaiser.

With this innovation the company underlines its development expertise in an industry undergoing major changes. The car industry will change more in the coming ten years than it has in the past 100. The causes of 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,” says Kaiser.

The company has been dealing with combustion motors since its formation 60 years ago. Considering this expertise 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 them and purely electric vehicles will significantly increase by 2025. “We are backing the right horse,” says the R&D head of Liqui Moly. “Because diesel motors only play a subordinate role for hybrids with a downward trend, we are launching a purely petrol additive on to the market.”

There is also a change in lubricants, although purely an aesthetic one: The labels of the 1 and 5-litre 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.