Whilst most vehicles on the road today are fuelled by more traditional means, we are entering the age of the electronic vehicle. The UK government has announced plans for investing in EV infrastructure to allow for the phasing out of new petrol or diesel vehicles by 2030, and world renowned manufacturers including General Motors and Audi have announced their own plans to stop the production of such vehicles within the next 15 years. As the electrification of vehicles speeds up, so does the demand for EV batteries and EV battery materials.
Demand for EV Battery Materials
Vehicle manufacturers and governments alike have dragged their feet for a long time for the move to EV, but now that the change from traditional to HEV and EV batteries is underway, EV battery manufacturers do face challenges ahead when it comes to materials. Lithium-ion batteries are the most common power source throughout the Hybrid and Electric vehicle market, and although Lithium is not scarce, EV battery manufacturers face challenges in scaling up Lithium-ion battery production to meet demand in the short term, as sufficient reserves of Lithium will need to be mined.
In addition to metal parts, EV batteries require a range of high-performance, flame retardant polymers for insulation, cushioning and vibration isolation applications to improve performance and increase safety. Specialist EV/HEV materials such as PORON® Polyurethanes and BISCO® Silicone materials are designed to provide high-performance solutions for battery producers.
Whilst it may be Lithium that is talked about more in the media, insulation and thermal management materials provide a wide range of reliability and performance enhancing solutions, as well as increasing the safety of batteries for the EV market
Pressure management pads
Pressure management pads hold EV battery components in place whilst also withstanding dimensional changes to the pouch cells throughout the batteries lifetime. PORON® Polyurethane materials such as PORON® EVExtend® provide excellent compression management, dimensional stability and thermal and electrical insulation, protecting internal battery components.
Anti-vibration pads
Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles must be packaged in a way where components are protected from internal impact energy and vibration. PORON® Polyurethanes and BISCO® Silicone materials provide proven solutions for vibration damping and isolation.
Battery housing seals
In order for EV and HEV batteries to function effectively and achieve a long life, effective insulation materials are required for protecting internal components from the ingress of the elements, along with dust and debris from the road, together with withstanding a wide temperature range and UV rays. BISCO® Silicone and PORON® AquaPro® offer exceptional environmental sealing performance.
Thermal runaway protection
Thermal runaway is a term used to describe the cycle of excessive heat, where the battery cells become unstable, generating excessive heat that burns from one cell to another. This could happen as a result of physical damage to a battery, or as a result of a charging fault, but whatever the cause, the related heat and pressure build up can do horrendous damage to an EV battery and electric vehicle. High performance insulation materials are vital for helping delay the burn of excessive heat from one cell to the next.
BISCO® Silicones are an effective thermal insulation solution, sealing EV batteries effectively, resisting high and low temperatures, and featuring excellent flammability properties to prevent thermal runaway.
Finding suitable EV battery materials
For advice in sourcing suitable EV battery materials for insulation and thermal management, and information on the key properties required for each EV/HEV battery application, you can contact CB Frost.