Teknor Apex showcases advances in EV coolant hose technology

Pawtucket, Rhode Island - Teknor Apex and extrusion machinery maker Maillefer have staged an event highlighting advances in thermal management systems for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Held over two weeks at Maillefer’s R&D facility in Ecublens, Switzerland, the event featured live demos and seminars focused particularly on developments in cooling hoses for BEVs.

The shift to BEVs has seen a "significant increase" in the length and number of hoses required in vehicles, said a 20 Nov release from Teknor Apex - pointing to the potential of its thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs) in this area.

According to the US compounder, TPVs can better address challenges around high heat-generation, sensitivity to temperature fluctuations and compact design than traditional materials such as EPDM.

Teknor went on to note that manufacturing and assembly of automotive coolant hoses is complex, involving several steps and processes.

These include different types of constructions (mono, multilayer or reinforced), material selection and coolant compatibility, reinforcement technologies, processing, and connector assembly.

Having adopted a “holistic approach” for the production of such hoses, Teknor said it is collaborating throughout the value-chain to offer “validated" TPV solutions.

“We're accelerating the development of innovative EV fluid management solutions,” said Ger Vroomen, senior account manager of Teknor Apex.

“We are going beyond material development to understand the entire application process, including extrusion, hose design, long-term coolant-contact performance, and even thermoforming,” he added.

During the event in Switzerland, participants observed the production of TPV-based hose designs optimised for: acoustic performance; compatibility with next-generation coolants; incorporation of post-consumer recycled materials.