Envalior

Automotive

Our innovative materials are developed to meet a wide variety of technological challenges in mobility, making (electric) vehicles safer, lighter and more sustainable. Browse these pages to learn more about how our industry experts, scientists and engineers work hand in hand with our customers to develop next generation solutions.

Making electric vehicles Safer, Lighter and More Sustainable

The future of mobility is rapidly changing. The era of internal combustion engines as a single power source is ending, indicating a transformation that makes vehicles cleaner. To realize this transformation, automotive OEMs need advanced materials that make electric vehicles safer, lighter and more sustainable.

Our portfolio of tough yet lightweight materials are driving manufacturers to produce automotive components that are extremely light, reduce friction and operate in extreme environments – particularly at very high temperatures - with drastically smaller carbon footprints. 

Highlighted case studies

SAFER

The EV charging plug with enhanced fire and electrical safety properties required for fast-charging

New suppliers entering the EV market are producing charging plugs using lower quality materials to drive costs down, which puts other manufacturers under pressure to improve cost efficiency. Yet, low quality materials fail to deliver the aesthetic value that OEMs expect today. They are also unsuitable for producing new fast-charging plugs, which process higher voltage rates and require high-strength materials designed to ensure final parts are safe to handle under any conditions.

LIGHTER

First roof crossmember with thermoplastic fiber composite design for convertible soft-top

Fabric roofs for convertibles are highly complex assemblies when it comes to safety, look, and functionality. Designing them is therefore always challenging. The example of the new convertible from a German premium automotive manufacturer illustrates the new opportunities that high-tech thermoplastics open up in the design of such parts. Its fully automatic fabric acoustic soft-top is equipped with a roof crossmember at the front that is made from the lightweight Tepex® and Durethan® structural materials from Envalior. They act as substitutes for magnesium. 

MORE SUSTAINABLE

The SPE Automotive 2021 innovation award-winning wire-harness clips for Ford Bronco Sport made of ocean plastics 

Ford uses wiring harness clips made of ocean-harvested plastic “ghost gear” in Bronco Sport models. Invisible to vehicle occupants, the wiring harness clips fasten to the sides of the Bronco Sport second-row seats and guide wires that power various features in the vehicle’s cargo area. Ford testing shows that the Akulon® RePurposed material, despite having spent time in salt water and sunlight, is as strong and durable as petroleum-based clips.

Browse applications in automotive

  • Battery System

    Efficient battery temperature control enhances performance and lifespan, with dielectric fluid immersion cooling and tailored plastic components providing optimal thermal management and cell protection.

  • Air Management

    Learn more about Envalior’s best-in-class thermoplastic material solutions for air management applications

  • Gears & Actuation

    Learn why Envalior is a leading supplier of advanced thermoplastic material solutions for gears and actuation systems.

  • Interior

    Drivers have the most interaction with the interior of the vehicle, making it a key area of focus as automobile manufacturers focus on improving the driving experience.

  • Engine

    Engine components such as timing systems, oil sumps, and bearing cages - engineering plastics reduce friction compared with metals, which gives fuel efficiency.

  • Drivetrain

    Drivetrain components have to work in very challenging conditions. Stanyl has proven an effective replacement for aluminum in FEAD systems, especially for the tensioner

  • Exterior

    Our broad portfolio of materials has grades suited to a wide range of exterior applications – for both painted and unpainted parts.

  • Braking

    Learn how Envalior helps manufacturers leverage advanced material science to improve the performance and safety of automotive braking systems.

  • Fuel Systems

    Learn why Envalior is a leading global supplier of advanced materials for automotive fuel systems.

  • Lightweighting

    Learn more about Envalior’s lightweight material solutions to lower weight & cost and maintain optimal driving experiences

  • Hydrogen Fuel Cells

    Fuel cell systems need to use materials that are pure. If not, ion leaching and hydrolytic and heat aging can occur. These two failure modes and the risks and consequences can hurt your brand image. Impure materials increase the risk of ion leaching, and higher water absorbing materials show more ion leaching, which you do not want. Also, impure materials increase the risk of hydrolytic and heat ageing— PA9T and PA66 are not good performers.

  • Thermal Management

    Learn how Envalior helps manufacturers leverage advanced material science to improve the performance and reliability of automotive thermal management systems.

  • Body & Chassis

    Body plugs, structural reinforcements and chassis made of Akulon polyamide 6 and Arnitel TPC (TPE-E) make better, safer, lighter, and more cost-efficient cars

Further reading

  • Automotive Industries: Legislation will drive technological developments in mobility

    OEMs and Tiers need a new generation of advanced materials as they focus more on producing electric vehicles. Plus, research shows it is important that technology development is informed by consumer preferences. Automotive Industries (AI) asked Tamim Sidiki, Global Marketing Director Mobility, DSM, to share what trends the company’s research has identified.

  • Manufacturing lightweight and cost-effective tanks for hydrogen vehicles

    A long-standing barrier to increasing the adoption of hydrogen vehicles is the weight and cost of their pressurized fuel tanks – which are typically made of steel or aluminium and limit a vehicle’s range and load capacity. As a result, manufacturers are looking to replace metal hydrogen tank materials with engineering thermoplastics that enable them to simplify designs, reduce part weight and lower production costs.

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