Italy's leading electric two-wheeler manufacturer has specified the use of Thermoplastic® K in its growing range of electric two-wheelers to make two new battery box precision pads. Askoll, headquartered in Douville (Vicenza, Italy), currently uses KRAIBURG TPE® thermoplastic elastomer materials to manufacture shock-resistant two-color molds for battery connectors and waterproof gaskets for battery cases. This material needs to be able to achieve strong direct adhesion with glass filled PBT on smaller contact surfaces, which is one of the main conditions to be achieved.
Nowadays, two-wheeled electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, especially in urban areas. During rush hours, office workers often spend more time on the roads and looking for parking spaces than they actually drive. At the same time, cities and towns around the world are looking for effective solutions to minimize the smoke and noise emitted by motor vehicles, and consumers want new ways to save fuel and maintenance costs. As a result, electric bicycles and scooters are quickly becoming a more convenient and sustainable way of travel for people, especially when traveling a short distance, such as short distances between home and work every day.
Electric vehicles need to use innovative materials to provide drivers with a pleasant and quiet driving experience by eliminating annoying environmental noise, and provide weather-resistant and waterproof enclosures for external components such as battery boxes on two-wheelers. This opens up new application opportunities for thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).
Scooter Paolo Trabuio, Project Manager at Askoll, explains: "To use battery connectors with shock-resistant covers on bicycles and scooters and to maintain a good seal for redesigned battery cases, we are looking for a Materials that provide the right balance between molding properties. ". "KRAIBURG TPE has been exploring for a long time to help us bring the concept to the market, and has given us great support in terms of material selection, design optimization, adhesion testing and forming tests."
Both TPE applications are injection molded in a two-component process, which requires excellent direct adhesion to glass-filled polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resin materials used in battery cases. In addition, the thermoplastic K compound selected must also provide good fluidity to ensure that the gasket can accurately, tightly and seamlessly engage the narrow contact surface of the lower box component. In addition, the compound also has key long-life mechanical properties, making it able to withstand the shock and vibration of the battery box while the vehicle is running, and avoiding wear and tear caused by frequent removal of maintenance-free batteries for charging at home or office.
Askoll's electric two-wheeler series includes several electric scooters and a series of electric bicycles tailored for the comfort of urban travel and tourism needs of citizens, including a stylish folding bicycle. The latest products include a small bike suitable for young people and a special urban sports model that will be available in the second half of the year. On bicycles, the battery box is conveniently installed in the front section of the head tube. On a scooter, it is located in the compartment under the seat. Molded handles facilitate removal, transport, and reinstallation.
Based on the manufacturer's vertical integration and years of motor experience, the drive unit of Askoll electric two-wheelers has carried out the brushless motor and battery pack capacity according to the different driving performance and mileage of the vehicle (up to 80 kilometers, that is 50 miles or more) Perfect match. The trip computer continuously monitors the battery status, provides up to four power levels, and automatically switches to ECO mode when the charge drops below 15%.
Dirk Butschkau, Product Marketing Manager, KRAIBURG TPE Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "Since discovering the potential for innovative solutions in this fast-growing market segment, we have made a disdainful effort in thermoplastic elastomer technology, Develop sustainable noise reduction applications for electric vehicles. "" Battery boxes on Askoll electric and scooters demonstrate the advantages of our materials in efficient molding, function, and form. "