Supplier Expanding EV Battery Component Production

A Japanese auto supplier is eyeing a potential boom in European battery-electric-vehicle uptake by expanding production on the continent.

Sekisui Chemical hopes to supply an expected growth in demand for high-performance interlayer films and thermal management materials deployed in BEVs for lightweighting. The company points to tightening European Union average fleet limits of 95 g/km of carbon dioxide taking effect in 2020 as further boosting BEV demand.

Responding to the moves, the supplier is building a new production line in the Netherlands for interlayer films that is due for completion by year’s end. It will add to this with work scheduled to commence around mid-2020 on a new plant for thermal management materials.

The company says it is focusing on producing a grease-type thermal management material for use in batteries in Europe. It debuted its lightweight BEV concept at last month’s Frankfurt auto show.

Masayuki Suda, Sekisui Chemical CEO, says: “The automotive industry is facing a once-in-a-century revolution and we can contribute to this, especially in e-mobility, with our heat management and thermal solutions.”