The automotive industry is undergoing the most radical change of its 100+ year history. Three key drivers that are influencing consumers to make different choices are new, advanced technologies (i.e., electrification, connectivity, autonomous driving), economic factors and the desire to steer towards a more sustainable future.
At the Envalior Tech Talk event held Nov. 3, 2022, in Troy, Michigan, USA, material experts explained how all these drivers are escalating the move towards electrification. The event was attended in-person and virtually by more than 100 automotive OEM and Tier One industry representatives.
With more than 150 different plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) on the roads today and a global movement to adopt sustainable manufacturing practices, Dr. Tamim Sidiki, Envalior Marketing Manager – Mobility, said he believes the shift towards fully-electric vehicles is on a non-stop course. Commitments from OEMs and governments to be zero net carbon neutral by around 2040 and the shifting perception that sustainability is not just something “nice to have” but a “must have” are incentivizing the electric vehicle (EV) movement.
“What is important for future technology is efficiency – specifically over a long time,” said Dr. Sidiki. “We have not only developed excellent materials, but we have also developed the required modeling tools and support. Together with our customers, we can build a proper business case and predict performance over the lifetime of applications. For the critical high voltage system in EVs, we have invested heavily in our labs. We can test and qualify materials up to 1500V for our customers’ applications.”
In his presentation, Dr. Sidiki talked about how consumers want vehicles that are safer, more lightweight, and sustainable.
When it comes to EVs, one of the main concerns of consumers is the possibility of a fire – particularly when most people are charging their cars at home. One of the most important functions in an EV is the thermal management system. Dr. Sidiki said Envalior is addressing this issue with its Xytron™ materials solution. Mechanically, Xytron is a robust material, but it also has a very high dimensional stability, is hydrolysis resistant and one of the most chemical resistant materials of highest ionic purity.
Making Vehicles Lighter
Another benefit consumers are looking for is to extend EV range. This is where weight reduction becomes critical. By converting heavy, structural metal parts to highly durable, lightweight plastic components manufacturers can reduce the weight of EVs. Envalior is helping many OEMs make the transition from metal to plastic using materials such as Akulon® PA6 and PA66, ForTii® PPA, Arnite® PBT and Xytron ®PPS. Customers are seeing weight reductions of up to 50%.
Making EVs More Sustainable
By the year 2040, more than 25 countries plan to ban the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. If the governmental regulations and policies on emission reductions are enacted, sustainability will become a mandatory requirement for many developed countries.
“By 2030, Envalior is committed to having our entire portfolio, every plastic that we bring to the market, available as either a bioplastic or a recycled plastic,” said Dr. Sidiki. “You can be assured that every action we take will be focused on delivering materials with a lower carbon footprint.”
The Tech Talk also included an in-depth discussion by Envalior Rob Janssen on the electrical properties of polymers. He talked about material concepts relevant for EV applications and the limits of ultimate dielectric properties of polyamides. The event concluded with a panel discussion and lab tours of the Troy, Michigan, facility.
02 December 2022
Helping you make a safer, lighter and more sustainable electric vehicle
K 2022, the World’s No. 1 Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, held October 19-26 in Düsseldorf, Germany, has drawn to a close. It was an impressive event with more than 175,000 attendees and more than 3,000 exhibitors, including Envalior. At our booth, we featured innovative materials solutions and announced the launch of an industry-leading suite of digital tools and online services, along with two successful partnerships.
Electric vehicle (EV)production is accelerating quickly, yet the high cost of Lithium-ion batteries has been a long-standing barrier to battery-powered EV adoption. To ensure EVs have longer driving ranges, battery packs need to support higher energy density. High nickel ternary alloys and manganese-based, lithium-rich metal oxides is a promising method for increasing the energy density and capacity of batteries. Yet, there are drawbacks to using these compounds, which elevate the risk of thermal runaway.
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) recently hosted the first Electric & Autonomous Vehicle (EAV) conference in Troy, Michigan. Russell Bloomfield, application development engineer, presented a session about Engineering Plastics Developed for EV Thermal Management Systems (TMS) during the two-day conference attend by more than 700 industry professionals.
MarCom & Sales Enablement Manager
Alicia Garrison is a marketing professional with more than 25 years of experience. She has spent most of her career working in the areas of automotive – including autonomous driving, e-mobility and connected vehicles – aerospace, academia, commercial vehicles and environmental and quality management standards. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
