Trelleborg undertakes composite-based R&D project

Funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) (London, England) through the Niche Vehicle Network (Loughborough, Leicestershire, England), Trelleborg’s (Trelleborg, Sweden) applied technologies operation will undertake a research and development (R&D) project focused on electric vehicle (EV) battery material and design, as part of a collaboration with composites company Far-UK Ltd. (Nottingham, England), Great British Sportscars Limited (Ollerton, England) and Engenuity Ltd. (West Sussex, England). The early-stage R&D stream initiative provides a platform for collaborative research in zero-emission vehicle technologies within the U.K. niche vehicle sector.

The focus of the R&D project is to develop a novel composite material, as an alternative to aluminum, that can be integrated into an EV battery to reduce the overall weight of the battery case, supporting the decarbonization of vehicles on the road and reducing emissions through lightweighting.

Neil O’Keeffe, technical director of Trelleborg’s applied technologies operation in Rochdale, England, states, “We are actively developing new materials within the EV sector, and we know that collaboration is key to understanding industry challenges and speeding up the development process. EV production is a critical emerging market for Trelleborg, and we are keen to support the progression to electrification.”

Richard Hall, director of Great British Sportscars, states, “Building a working proof-of-concept within a vehicle is the end goal for the project. Working with other like-minded companies that are focused on innovation is key for us, there is a synergy in our outlook, with this project providing a great basis for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.”

The R&D project is for a six-month period, with findings and results published during 2022.