Interior and Exterior Solutions

Electronics spanning the interior and exterior of electric vehicles (EVs) play a vital role in creating a safer and more comfortable experience for passengers. From comfort features like advanced lighting and heating systems to digital interfaces such as infotainment and driver displays, EVs today contain a wide range of technologies that enhance the passenger experience. However, to enable the long-term performance of these electronics, design engineers must address several pressing challenges, including rising heat loads, electrical insulation vulnerabilities, mechanical and environmental stresses, and signal interference challenges.  

Qnity’s comprehensive portfolio of advanced materials solutions for EVs helps design engineers address these critical issues across the interior and exterior electronics of EVs. For example:

• Dielectric materials wrap around small wires or cover exposed areas to provide reliable insulation in vulnerable spots.
• Silver nanowires provide electrical conductivity for window defrosters.
• Electrically conductive heating films enable seat warmers.
• Thermal interface materials effectively transfer heat away from high-powered, heat-generating components within navigation screens and driver displays. 
• Flexible circuit laminates with dimensional stability and environmental resilience support high-speed connectivity in tight spaces with complex geometries. 

Together, these solutions work in concert so that every electronic component across the interior and exterior of EVs performs reliably throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle.

Future innovations in EVs, such as dynamic lighting and individual infotainment systems, are likely to further elevate the passenger experience. But, as design engineers add more high-powered electronics, thermal, signal, and mechanical challenges will increase alongside these innovations.

The stakes are high in EVs. A single point of electrical failure can compromise safety. Poor thermal management can degrade performance and shorten component life. Unreliable displays or comfort features directly impact customer satisfaction and brand reputation. By addressing these overlapping challenges with advanced materials solutions, design engineers can enable the safe and comfortable experiences that drivers and passengers expect from next-generation EVs.