Kautex Textron has received an order from a major EV manufacturer for thermoplastic composite lower battery housing units from the company’s Pentatonic battery enclosure portfolio.

The Pentatonic product line features lightweight, customizable solutions using thermoplastic composite or composite-metal hybrid construction. Kautex says these technologies are intended to improve battery pack thermal management while enabling overall weight reduction, which could increase vehicle performance and driving range. The lower battery housing is designed to seal and protect vehicle batteries, meeting automotive structural and thermal requirements, including crush and bottom impact testing, along with external and internal fire tests.

The product will be manufactured for an EV platform covering multiple vehicle brands. Kautex says this thermoplastic composite housing offers advantages over conventional metal designs, including lower costs due to high functional integration and a reduction in component count, as well as improved corrosion resistance. The lightweight nature of the material can reduce the bill of materials and help lower carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and use.

This is its second commercial order for the Pentatonic product line, following an initial deployment in January 2023 for a BEV underbody protection skid plate. Kautex also reports validation of Pentatonic battery enclosures through road testing in the US, Japan and Europe, accumulating over 100,000 miles across BEV and hybrid vehicles in varied terrains and climates.

Source: Kautex Textron