With the continued growth of electric vehicles on the road, electric vehicles are using more and more components every day. As such, the supply has to meet the demand, and manufacturers are reaping the rewards of using various EV components. Continue reading to discover how flexible interconnects are used in electric vehicle chargers.
How do flexible interconnects benefit electric vehicles?
In the current marketplace, consumers are much more interested in high efficiency in their vehicles, as well as improved safety standards, sleek engineering and hands-free controls that have become standard for more luxury models. The clamour for higher efficiency in vehicles has ushered in a new era of electrically powered cars and hybrid vehicles that attempt to use the best of both worlds.
Another benefit to using flexible interconnects with electric vehicles components is how lightweight they are compared to traditional cable harnessing allowing for greater range. Cable harnesses represent some of the heavier and more expensive parts contained in a vehicle and EV components, so a more lightweight offering from flexible interconnects is much more appealing. Traditionally flexible printed circuits (FPC) have been used to allow for flexible and lightweight interconnections but the costs of these designs can make up a large proportion of product costs. Where the design in simple FFC can be a great alternative offering a flexible and highly reliable product at a fraction of the cost.
Also, the use of flexible flat cables (FFC) is great for electric vehicle charger components due to their space-saving properties.
Advantages of flexible interconnect systems for the automotive industry
There are plenty of advantages to using flexible interconnects in the automotive industry, and they include:
- Weight and volume reduction
- High flexibility
- Simplified assembly of the final product
- Avoids wiring errors
- Increased reliability
- High temperature resistance
- Resistance to the automotive environment
Design considerations for EV chargers
With the growth in technological advancement – and demand for more high-powered, highly-efficient electric vehicles – manufacturers and designers have to find ways to distribute adequate power to all systems reliably.
In fully electric and hybrid vehicles, high power usage presents concerns for printed circuit board assembly and design. However, well-designed high-power boards can be achieved with the following steps:
- Choosing board materials that are capable of withstanding high temperatures.
- Optimising thermal usage with good resistance management.
- Spacing high power components apart.
- Controlling current flow using copper weights.
Flexible interconnects at Hitaltech
Hitaltech has been creating high-quality connecting technologies and enclosures for electronic and electrical applications for over 35 years. Our vast range of superior products has been designed with our customers in mind. If you are looking for professional connecting technologies and enclosures, we have everything from wire-to-board connectors to hand held enclosures.
If you would like to find out more about our products, including our connecting technologies and enclosures, please contact us today on +44 (0)1253 899910 or email uksales@hitaltech.co.uk. The Hitaltech team is always on hand to answer any questions you may have.
