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Sustainability has evolved from being just a niche engagement to a fundamental necessity. The reduction of carbon emissions from aspects of human activity has become desirable for its ability to mitigate the impact of climate change. The Transportation industry is a critical part of the global economy – any effort to curb emissions will have a significant impact on CO2 reduction. Engine lubricant can play an efficient and key role to enhance powertrain performance that have undergone significant hardware changes to reduce emissions. As part of a significant collaborative programme between Tata Motors and Infineum, a new engine oil formulation SAE 5W-30 API FA-4 has been developed and commercially introduced for use in the modern Bharat Stage 6 Phase 2 engines.

Sustainability trends and reduced fuel consumption as a value proposition to end users have led to an ever-increasing focus on fuel efficiency in the personal mobility segment. This is evident in the development of smaller and lighter engine hardware with optimized combustion systems as well as the lowering of engine oil viscosity grades and formulation of additives with improved friction properties. Due to the unique challenges of lubricating motorcycle engines, the development of fuel efficient motorcycle engine oil presents several technical dilemmas. The reduction of oil viscosity gives rise to durability concerns particularly in such high temperature and high speed operating conditions, while the formulation of additives with lower friction properties may affect clutch friction that is necessary for a manual motorcycle.

In a market survey conducted in 2010 on major South East Asian cities, motorcycle users identified some of the most valued oil features being clutch friction, durability and engine cleanliness. In the fast growing motorcycle markets of Asia where motorcycles are used mainly for daily transportation needs, there are enormous opportunities for motorcycle oils delivering differentiated attributes that provide superior reliability to the end users. It was with this market perspective that this new additive technology was developed. The additive technology was developed based on a unique set of components and formulation approach to meet the lubrication challenges of motorcycles, particularly its high shear and temperature conditions. In a forward-looking standpoint, the development was aligned to the current energy conservation and environmental trends in the personal mobility oil segment.