As the hybrid vehicle market increases, reducing the complexity of the hybrid fuel tank is key to manufacturers. Using advanced polyamides can reduce the complexity of producing these tanks and create cost savings, thus, you can gain a competitive advantage through greater efficiency and potential cost-savings.
At DSM Engineering Materials, we offer Fuel Lock Technology—an effective and proven solution for superior hybrid fuel tanks. Offering excellent barrier properties in a monolayer material, Fuel Lock Technology offers weight reduction and less post-processing via an injection molding process. Compared to HDPE/EVOH material used for blowmolded tanks, it can combine good mechanical properties and barrier performance in one material. Processing the material by means of plastic injection molding offers the design freedom to apply local reinforcements, make optimal use of the available building space and integrate functional features. Additionally, no secondary operations are needed because features like baffles and pillars are designed into the tank and injection molded together with the fuel tank body.
A monolayer hybrid fuel tank can be made of EcoPaXX® or Akulon® Fuel Lock. EcoPaXX® is the material of choice if you want the fuel tank to be intrinsically salt spray resistant because the car platform has an open chassis design, and the tank is exposed to an outdoor environment. Also, we use 70% bio-sourced monomer, thus, EcoPaXX® Fuel Lock has a carbon neutral footprint.