SGL Carbon Produces Composite Battery Box Prototypes

SGL Carbon (Wiesbaden, Germany) announced it has formed a partnership with Chinese automaker NIO to develop a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) battery case prototype for electric vehicles. The CFRP battery case is 40 percent lighter than conventional aluminum or steel battery cases and also offers high rigidity and approximately 200 times lower thermal conductivity compared to aluminum, it was stated. Sebastian Grasser, Automotive Market Segment Manager at SGL Carbon's Composites – Fibers and Materials business unit, said: "The composite material has optimal values in terms of corrosion resistance as well as water and gas tightness." The case base and lid consist of a sandwich-type core made of several carbon gels joined together. The tool design to be used in the production of the base and lid was developed at SGL's Lightweight Solutions and Application Center, and the carbon fibers for these components are produced at SGL facilities in Moses Lake, Wash., USA and Muir of Ord, UK and processed in Wackersdorf, Germany.