Leading automotive manufacturer secures battery housing contract for BEVs with Kautex Textron
Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, a leading innovator in plastic technology, has made a significant stride in the electric vehicle (EV) industry with the introduction of its Pentatonic battery enclosure portfolio. The latest addition to this portfolio is a full-BEV thermoplastic composite lower battery housing solution, offering numerous advantages over conventional metal counterparts.
Lightweight Design and Enhanced Thermal Management
The key benefits of this innovative solution include a lightweight design, improved thermal management, cost efficiency, a lower carbon footprint, and corrosion resistance. The use of thermoplastic composite materials significantly reduces the weight compared to conventional metal housings, contributing to better vehicle performance and extended driving range. Additionally, the Pentatonic portfolio technologies improve battery pack thermal management, which is critical for safety and efficiency in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
Cost Efficiency and Environmental Advantages
The design achieves lower cost through high functional integration, reducing component count and simplifying the bill of materials compared to traditional metal enclosures. Furthermore, thermoplastic composites reduce carbon emissions both in manufacturing—due to lighter weight and fewer parts—and operational use, helping lower overall environmental impact.
Reliability and Durability
The composite housing offers corrosion resistance without compromising performance over the vehicle’s lifespan, ensuring long-term reliability. This solution has been validated through extensive road testing across various climates and terrains, demonstrating reliability across multiple BEV platforms and vehicle brands.
Continued Success for Kautex Textron
This solution marks Kautex’s second Pentatonic business win, following a previous order for a full-BEV thermoplastic composite lower battery housing unit. The company has deployed three on-road test vehicles in the US, Japan, and Europe to validate the performance of full-BEV and hybrid Pentatonic enclosures.
Recently, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG has received an order for a full-BEV underbody protection skid plate that will enter serial production in a future year. This product is part of the Pentatonic battery enclosure portfolio and will be produced for a major BEV platform, spanning across multiple vehicle brands.
Awards and Recognition
The Pentatonic product line offers lightweight, customizable EV solutions made from thermoplastic composite or composite metal hybrids. This innovative approach has earned Pentatonic multiple awards, including the SPE Grand Innovation Award in Europe, the Lingxuan Award in China, and the Gasgoo Innovation Award in China.
Joerg Rautenstrauch, President & CEO of Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, expressed his excitement about the continued success of the Pentatonic battery enclosure portfolio, stating, "We are thrilled to see the positive impact our innovative solutions are having on the EV industry. Our commitment to creating sustainable, cost-effective, and high-performing products is at the heart of everything we do."
With the growing demand for electric vehicles and the need for lighter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG's Pentatonic battery enclosure portfolio is poised to make a significant impact in the industry.
Technology plays a crucial role in the advancements made by Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, as demonstrated by their Pentatonic battery enclosure portfolio. This technology offers lightweight designs, enhanced thermal management, cost efficiency, a lower carbon footprint, and corrosion resistance, all essential factors in the electric vehicle industry.
The use of technology in the form of thermoplastic composites contributes to better vehicle performance, extended driving range, and lower environmental impact in the production and operational use of electric vehicles.
