Castrol innovation business Nexcel has launched a development program to demonstrate its proven active oil management system for hybrid-electric passenger vehicles.
Installation of the system, which enables 90-second spill-free oil changes and eases the used oil re-refinement process, will be carried out by Prodrive Advanced Technologies.
The engineering consultancy is taking Nexcel’s conversion plans to demonstrate the packaging potential in a 2018 Toyota Prius Plug-in, which will showcase the sealed oil cell technology in the first hybrid-electric application of its kind.
“Powertrain is evolving and the future of the ICE is bright, but active oil management can help further enhance emissions control and public perception of the ICE as part of an innovative hybrid electric vehicle powertrain,” said Nexcel sustainability director John Ward-Zinski. “By 2030, leading industry commentators believe that at least 75% of passenger cars will incorporate ICE as a form of motive power, with the majority of those being hybrid-electric vehicles.”
Incorporating Nexcel promises benefits to future hybrid powertrains. “Consideration of Nexcel at a vehicle’s design stage could provide considerable packaging benefits,” noted Ward-Zinski. “The traditional oil sump and filter, for example, will no longer be required so access for regular, routine servicing is no longer a key factor, and alters the requirements for ICE location and packaging. This is a perfect fit for the low maintenance, high efficiency image sought by vehicle manufacturers developing advanced hybrid passenger vehicles.”
