How can advanced fastener technology enable new e-connectivity designs for Electric Vehicles (EVs)?

EJOT UK’s Application Engineer, Dan Lunn, assesses how Electric Vehicle (EV) designers can optimise the design e-connectivity assemblies and elements for assured long term reliability, durability and safety.

Drivers of fully electric vehicles (EVs) and plug in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) may take for granted the ability to easily connect a charging lead from the mains electricity-fed charging unit, but as any automotive designer will know, ensuring e-connectivity assemblies are built to stand the test of time can present a challenge without careful consideration of the fastener specification.

E-connectivity assemblies are as fundamental to an EV’s operation as the petrol or diesel tank is to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle.

The Importance of Reliably

For EV designers, therefore, e-connectivity is an area that requires detailed focus to ensure the driver and owner can depend on being able to charge their vehicle reliably in the long term. Any issues arising with the assemblies and devices that facilitate e-connectivity could affect the reliability of EV and knock drivers’ confidence – so it is vital to get it right.

This is an area of EV design where EJOT can help through our range of fastening solutions for the automotive industry. This range has been facilitating technological advancement for automotive designers for decades, and today many of our products are used routinely by many of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, including those focusing on hybrids and EVs.

EJOT's Range of e-connectivity Fastening Solutions

At the core of EJOT’s EV e-connectivity expertise is our range of screws designed for joining plastics, particularly the EJOT Delta PT and EJOT EVO PT. Both these screws are optimised for thread-forming in thermoplastics to deliver the highest possible clamp load with low surface pressure in the plastic. The result is great versatility, making the screws very well suited to the demands of e-connectivity assemblies.

Whether standardisation of multiple joints is required, or a single use screw is needed, EJOT can provide the right product backed with all the technical guidance required to deal with the demands that e-connectivity brings. This includes our prognosis programs Delta Calc and EVO Calc – these give designers software that can assist at the initial development phase, ensuring the correct screw is chosen at different points of the assembly. As a result, they have the potential to save time and costs during the development process.

Many of the benefits of Delta PT and EVO PT are common across all the EJOT fastening solutions for EVs. It is a range that spans everything from lightweight material fasteners, fixings for composites and screws for aluminium and multi materials, to self-drilling, plastic and removable fasteners, plus special application fasteners, thread formers and self-tappers.

What to know more? Read about the fasteners featured in this article:

• EVO PT - The self-tapping screw for plastics
• Delta PT – The high load capacity screw for direct fastening into plastics
• Delta Calc & EVO Calc - Prognosis software that can accelerate R&D programmes