Hybrid cars, which incorporate an internal combustion engine alongside a battery, continue to play an important role in cutting global carbon emissions. OEMs look to optimize the sustainability of hybrid vehicles by fitting them with compact turbocharged engines that are designed to balance performance and fuel economy. To lightweight engines and improve vehicle sustainability, manufacturers have replaced metal and rubber materials for these parts with polyamide 66 (PA66). Yet, this polyamide provides limited thermal resistance and can create supply chain risks.

For hybrid vehicles, there is an ongoing demand for internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains to deliver better fuel economy, higher efficiency and reduced emissions. The trend to improve ICE vehicle efficiency with better fuel economy and an increase in engine power owes a lot to turbocharge technology. When there is an increase in engine performance and efficiency, high heat and more aggressive gasses under high pressure are a result.

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.