This content is not included in your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.

Aluminum dominates for EV battery enclosures - for now

  • Magazine Article
  • 21AUTP04_08
Published April 01, 2021 by SAE International in United States
Sector:
Language:
  • English

Aluminum is the dominant material for electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosures for one simple but significant factor: lightweighting capability. All currently available long-range EVs - those that can travel beyond 250 miles (400 km) - use aluminum as the main material for the battery enclosure for that very reason, Dr. Andreas Afseth, technical director for Constellium North America operations, said during a recent Center for Automotive Research (CAR) webinar.

“Aluminum continues to be the fastest-growing material in automotive application,” Afseth said. Growth is driven in part by the increasing market share of EVs, including electric trucks and vans, which already employ a greater amount of aluminum than do conventional-powertrain models - more than 640 lb (290 kg) in EV platforms compared to about 450 lb (205 kg) in non-EVs.