Developing lubricants and fluids for electric vehicles is a tall order – and only partly because performance requirements are more difficult than for products used in conventional automobiles, a Valvoline official told a recent industry conference. Besides products themselves, industry also needs to develop procedures to measure key performance characteristics and equipment on which to conduct such tests.

Motorex USA Inc. acquired Intercontinental Lubricants Corp.’s Spectro Performance Oils business, the company announced this week. The deal gives Motorex the domestic and international operations of Spectro along with a blending and storage facility.

Creating bio-lubricants using the liquid by-product extracted during processing of cashew nuts is the subject of a new patent earned by Brazil’s Federal University of Ceará, Agência UFC reported last week. The liquid consists mainly of a phenol-type compound that reduces friction between metals.