BASF electric vehicle charging cable meets Chinese national standards

HC Plastics News: According to the forthcoming National Standard for Electric Vehicle Charging Cables (GB/T33594-2017), BASF Elastollan® Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) has been approved as a cable material solution for electric vehicle charging. The standard will come into effect on December 1, 2017. Thanks to its excellent durability and low temperature flexibility, Elastollan is now widely used in cable jacketing for electric vehicle charging.

Andy Postlethwaite, senior vice president of Asia Pacific for BASF's Specialty Materials Division, said: "The charging systems for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles need to face extremely demanding work environments. Not only will they withstand the stress caused by long periods of high current transmission, but also Must withstand the harsh outdoor environment - wind, frost, snow, man-made damage and car collisions from time to time."

Thanks to its excellent abrasion resistance, mechanical properties, flexibility and excellent chemical resistance, Elastollan extends the life of charging cables to ensure stable and safe power for electric vehicles.

“Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more popular. We see the huge potential of this market, especially in China: driven by rapid urbanization and government pollution control policies, China has become the world’s largest electric vehicle market and the main Manufacturing Center." Bao Leiwei added: "BASF has the ability to meet stringent regulatory requirements, which will help automakers fully exploit market potential."

According to market research firm Technavio, by 2020, the production of pure electric vehicles, hybrid cars and plug-in hybrid cars will account for 5% to 8% of total vehicle production. By 2020, the annual compound growth rate of the global electric vehicle charging market will exceed 29%, and China will reach 116%.

In addition to charging cables, BASF offers a wide range of lightweight plastic solutions. The outer casing made of thermoplastics can be reduced by up to 30% compared to metal parts.