The electric vehicle (EV) revolution continues unabated. In 2008, there were fewer than 500 EV charging stations in the United States; as of last year, there are over 47,000. As recently as 10 years ago, North American car buyers had just four battery or fuel-cell electric car models to choose from; now there are upwards of 50 electric and hybrid automobiles available. The market for EV batteries is also set for dramatic growth, with recent forecasts projecting a 20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to a $15 billion market by 2026.

This dramatic growth will require significant improvements in battery and module construction technology. Improved resilience during both hot and cold temperatures will be necessary to extend battery life and improve driving range. Battery module production costs need to decrease, and reducing the number of manufacturing steps and the complexity of those steps will allow automation to play a role in bringing down module costs. Reducing battery weight and size can also bring down vehicle materials costs and improve driving range. These disparate challenges all seem to need different solutions — fortunately, Saint-Gobain Norseal PF series compression pads can help address all of them simultaneously.

Read the full engineering brief on the Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions webpage.