DSM and Renault create lightweight and decomplexed hybrid vehicle fuel tank

DSM Engineering Materials announces its partnership with Renault to create an industry-first lightweight solution for hybrid vehicle fuel tanks.

By using Akulon Fuel Lock, DSM's high-performance low-carbon-footprint PA6 material, the fuel tanks can be produced with a blow molding monolayer construction that significantly reduces weight and cost without compromising safety or risking additional emissions.

As e-mobility continues to develop, regulations and standards are evolving alongside the industry. European union regulations set a maximum CO2 emission rate of 95 g/km for passenger cars, which necessitates a careful balance of materials and design to maximize fuel efficiency.

Traditionally, fuel tanks were made of steel to prevent volatile compounds from escaping, but these tanks add significant weight to the vehicle.

DSM Engineering Materials partners with Renault to create lightweight and decomplexed plug-in hybrid vehicle fuel tank.

Hybrid vehicles enable the use of smaller fuel tanks, making a polymer solution more viable, but high-density polyethylene (HDPE) still requires multilayer structures with complex additional features to prevent permeation, and withstand the extended periods of internal pressure inherent to Plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Following the successful development of the first automotive fuel tank in polyamide commercialized on the Alpine A110, DSM Engineering Materials continued its partnership with RM Technologies, MTS France and Renault to create an industry-first solution for the Renault CAPTUR E-Tech Plug-in-Hybrid.

It draws on its portfolio of high-performance materials to complement Renault’s fuel systems engineering expertise. Its Akulon Fuel Lock material enables a lightweight monolayer fuel tank with the low permeation properties needed to meet regulations.

Akulon Fuel Lock PA6 grades are designed for injection or blow molding and extrusion, making them highly versatile for the rapid design innovation of the e-mobility sector. High parison stability enables very narrow wall thickness distributions, and robust performance at both high and low temperatures ensures that safety is always paramount.

Akulon Fuel Lock is offering a drop-in solution and a second life to the monolayer blow molding machines dedicated to the production of the declining diesel monolayer fuel tanks.