Materials Publications

Advanced insulation packages, solar reflective film, and other thermal-management technologies enable heavy vehicles to reduce idle climate control loads, as demonstrated by NREL's CoolCab project in collaboration with industry OEMs and suppliers.

Climate control can reduce electric-vehicle range by up to 46% from A/C usage in hot weather and up to 68% from electric heaters in cold temps. Tests of a solar glass windshield at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory show 4% savings in required A/C cooling capacity, providing an up to 1.0 mi (1.6 km) increase in vehicle range.

Kevin Woock, Henkel's Global Market Segment Manager for Automotive, explains how the Bonderite Flex Process, which uses zirconium oxide pretreatment instead of conventional zinc phosphating, enables processing of up to 85% aluminum content on vehicles vs. 25% with zinc phosphate coating.

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board on April 23-24 will hold a hearing focusing on the design and certification of the 787's battery system.

Leoni AG, a wiring systems supplier, describes competitiveness of aluminum wiring with enhanced corrosion protection of joints. Shows preformed harnesses that simplify assembly line installation. Describes thermal protection systems for these harnesses, and calls them production-ready.