Global Fastener News

Designing fasteners for electric vehicles can be challenging, but with governments around the world looking to cut carbon emissions, the global shift towards EVs creates an emerging market with significant potential.

“Fastener development, product modifications and new join­ing systems allied to differing vehicle construction materials and methods have all evolved during this period and they are part of the electrification revolution we are already seeing,” stated Steve Wynn, EJOT’s UK Sales Manager for Industrial Fastening Solutions Steve Wynn.

The obvious mechanical difference between combustion driven vehicles and EVs is that the latter replaces a conventional powertrain with a motor and electric control unit (ECU).

“We are seeing a shift in product deployment,” Winn noted. “For example, the escalation in the need for printed microcircuit boards – usually set into a light aluminum casting – is the domain of EJOT’s micro screw range. These thread-forming screws provide the performance at a miniaturized level that designers would normally expect to achieve with much larger screws, as an alternative to solder­ing, gluing, clipping, or welding.”

There are notable differences in the manu­facturing requirements of EVs and combustion engine vehicles.

“It was initially thought that new materials required for EV construction would make adhesive solutions a more attractive, dominant approach to fastening and they would gain the market share,” Wynn explained. “However, while this has partially become true, mechanical fastenings are still a strongly preferred option, in part due to the hurdles of curing times and fumes from associ­ated with using adhesives.”

The key challenge is designing mechanical joining systems for thinner and more lightweight materials, particularly when parts that are lightweighted also become more flexible in many cases.

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