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DISCOVER HYSPEC

Press Release

13 July 2023

 

CASTROL LAUNCHES NEW ENGINE OIL PERFORMANCE STANDARD FOR HYBRID CARS.

The demand for hybrid technology is growing. By 2025, it is expected that one in every four cars sold globally will be hybrid1. Today, there is currently no specific industry standard specification for hybrid engine oils.

 

Introducing HYSPEC

HYSPEC is Castrol’s new technical standard for engine oils for hybrids. It’s not a new product, ingredient, or competitor comparison. It’s Castrol’s own benchmark to measure the performance of its engine oils for hybrids. HYSPEC is derived from rigorous Castrol bespoke tests and 15 industry tests identified as relevant to hybrid operation. Castrol’s new performance standard is a first-of-its-kind in the industry for hybrid vehicles and can support both car workshops and their customers in identifying the right oil for hybrid cars.

 

Setting the standard

Hybrids operate differently from conventional cars. The switch between an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric motor challenges engine oil in three key areas: increased contamination due to cooler engine temperatures, reduced performance and protection due to engine intermittency, and a reduction in system efficiency due to cooler running and lower oil temperatures.

Switching between an electric motor and ICE can cause hybrid engines to run at cooler temperatures, which can lead to water and fuel build-up in the oil. This can disrupt some oils and cause engine deterioration. The switching between two power sources also means hybrid engines can operate at lower speeds, and then ramp up to high engine speeds quickly. Some oils can’t keep up, resulting in reduced engine performance and protection. Cooler running and lower oil temperatures can lead to reduced engine efficiency and in turn, poorer fuel efficiency and charging of the battery.
 

 


HYSPEC enables Castrol to demonstrate how its oils for hybrids perform across these key areas. But what makes Castrol’s standard stand apart?


  • Castrol has spent over 25 years researching, testing, and reporting on the characteristics of hybrids.
  • Castrol has conducted a year-long road trial on mild, full, and plug-in hybrids that captured over two billion pieces of data. Combined, the cars travelled over 300,000 kms, for more than 7,000 hours – the equivalent to driving 24/7 for more than 42 weeks!
  • Castrol has worked with vehicle manufacturers to develop hybrid testing techniques – enabling them to constantly refine their products and improve performance.
  • Motorsport is the ultimate testing ground for hybrid technology. Castrol is proud to work with the BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team and Ford M-Sport World Rally Championship team, testing our engine oils under the toughest conditions.
  • To validate the findings, Castrol commissioned a third-party consultancy and external experts to conduct research with service centres, fleet operators and car owners to deliver a wider perspective on global markets.

 

Castrol’s experience and its new hybrid performance standard, HYSPEC, will assure car workshops and their customers of Castrol’s expert knowledge in engine oils for hybrids.

 

The benefits of HYSPEC

For strong resistance, protected switching, and fuel economy2, car owners can choose oils that perform against HYSPEC –  Castrol’s new hybrid performance standard.

 

Castrol’s portfolio includes many hybrid-ready engine oils. In addition, those badged with the HYSPEC logo demonstrate at least 25%3 benefit
against the HYSPEC standard, across the critical areas of contaminants, engine intermittency and system efficiency.

 

To learn more about HYSPEC and Castrol’s range of hybrid-ready engine oils, please visit:  https://www.castrol.com/hybrid.html

 

1 Per predictions from LMC Automotive, a GlobalData company, 2023.

2 As demonstrated in testing against HYSPEC, Castrol’s hybrid performance standard. Strong resistance demonstrated by water and fuel contamination handling, protected switching by wear, stability and cold temperature testing, and fuel economy by industry standard fuel economy testing.

3 Compared to performance minimum requirements set in both industry specification and Castrol bespoke testing across tests applicable to hybrid vehicle types, covering contaminants, engine intermittency and system efficiency.
 

 
Further information:

bp press office London, bppress@bp.com, +44 7919 217511
 

About Castrol:

Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fueling the dreams of pioneers. Our passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership, has enabled Castrol to develop lubricants, coolants and greases that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea and in space for over 100 years.
 
 

Castrol is part of the bp group and serves customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Our branded products are recognized globally for innovation and high performance through our commitment to premium quality and cutting-edge technology.
 
 

For more information about Castrol, please visit: www.castrol.com/forward
 

 
Cautionary statement:

In order to utilize the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the 'PSLRA'), bp is providing the following cautionary statement. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements – that is, statements related to future, not past events and circumstances – which may relate to one or more of the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of bp and certain of the plans and objectives of bp with respect to these items. These statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as 'will', 'expects', 'is expected to', 'aims', 'should', 'may', 'objective', 'is likely to', 'intends', 'believes', 'anticipates', 'plans', 'we see' or similar expressions. Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements, depending on a variety of factors including the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F under "Risk factors" and in any of our more recent public reports.
Our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F and other period filings are available on our website at www.bp.com, or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at www.sec.gov.