Lightweight Materials for Electric Cars: New Ceresana Study on Automotive Plastics

KONSTANZ, Germany - Oct. 4, 2021 - PRLog -- Even small changes in the raw materials that are used can have significant economic effects. In 2020, around 14.3 million new passenger cars were registered in Europe. In 2017, this figure even exceeded 18 million units. The market research company Ceresana has now specifically examined the European market for plastics used in passenger cars.

Plastics instead of Steel in Vehicles

Electric drives use far fewer components than internal combustion engines, and they also change the requirements for raw materials: Less heat in the engine compartment means, for example, that cheaper polymers can be used in some places instead of metals and expensive engineering plastics. Lightweight plastic parts are preferred in electric cars as a way of compensating for the weight of the batteries, which is still a problem. Although the autonomous and fully connected car is still a vision of the future, the number of electrical displays and sensors is already growing steadily. Even batteries contain a lot of plastic in the form of rolled or folded films.

Polypropylene in Pole Position

The most widely used automotive plastic is polypropylene (PP), which is used, for example, for bumpers and lighting. For polyethylene (PE), the trend towards electric cars may become a threat: the grades HDPE, LDPE, and LLDPE are used in combustion cars, especially in the engine compartment and for fuel systems. PUR, on the other hand, is mainly used for seats and upholstery. This latest study by Ceresana also analyzes market data for ABS, PA, PVC, PC, PMMA, as well as other plastics used in the automotive industry. The market data also takes into account the different application areas and fuel types. The study includes all plastic components that are manufactured by suppliers or vehicle manufacturers and then installed in passenger cars, both for new vehicles and for replacement parts.

Further information on the market study: https://www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/mobility/autom...

About Ceresana
As one of the world's leading market research institutes, Ceresana is specialized in the segments chemicals, plastics, packaging, and industrial goods with a focus on automotive / mobility. Companies have been benefiting from our high-quality industry analyses and forecasts since 2002. More than 200 market studies provide more than 10,000 customers around the world with the knowledge for their sustainable success.
Find more information about Ceresana at https://www.ceresana.com