World-renowned adhesives manufacturer Henkel Adhesive Technologies is helping to build the next generation of electric cars. Henkel products are used in various areas of electric vehicles, including battery technology, electric drive systems, energy conversion systems, lightweight construction and charging infrastructure. Depending on the area, these may include adhesives, coatings, sealants, lubricants and/or other Henkel products.

Production of electric cars is increasing rapidly

Due to global warming, legal regulations, technical progress, greater ranges and lower prices, among other things, electromobility is playing an increasingly important role. According to the Swiss eMobility Association, the proportion of plug-in vehicles in Switzerland was already 27.3% in the first half of 2023. Plug-in vehicles are battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).

With a share of 22% electric cars (BEV) in new registrations, Switzerland has fallen slightly by two places to tenth place in Europe compared to 2022. In Norway, however, the share of BEVs in new registrations was already 81%, putting Norway in first place. In the Netherlands, Finland, Iceland and Sweden, the share was still between 30 and 40 percent. In Europe as a whole, the figure is 14 percent. Switzerland can score points with its almost 15,000 public charging points, making the Swiss charging network one of the densest in Europe.

Henkel products relevant in various areas of electromobility

Henkel Adhesive Technologies offers a variety of different key technologies for production in the field of electromobility. These include materials for thermal interfaces (such as thermally conductive adhesives and gap fillers), thermal management solutions (such as fire protection coatings, potting and flame retardant barriers), adhesives (such as structural adhesives and adhesives for battery cell assembly), sealants (such as liquid sealants) and functional coatings (including conductive electrode coatings and dielectric coatings).

Battery technology

An essential component of electric cars is the battery, for which Henkel has various solutions to ensure stability, sealing against moisture and dirt, for example, as well as heat dissipation, but also to contribute to the long-term performance of the battery. The operating temperature has a decisive influence on the service life of the battery.

The products that Henkel offers in the field of battery technology include

  • Products to prevent the spread of heat
  • Adhesives for battery assembly
  • Structural adhesives
  • Materials for thermal interfaces
  • Sealings
  • Products for metal pre-treatment
  • Impregnation service
  • Conductive coatings for electrodes

In the following document from Henkel you will find many of these products listed in detail for battery technology, with details of the specific product properties:

Henkel Solutions for E-Mobility

When developing new battery solutions, the focus is placed on battery safety as well as maintenance and recycling options, among other things. During maintenance, for example, it is necessary to be able to open the batteries without great effort, which is achieved by “debonding”. Debonding technology is also used for recycling so that the different materials can be separated from each other again.

Electric drive systems

Henkel also has suitable products for the electric drive system, motors and power electronics in electric cars, such as adhesives, lubricants and sealants. Depending on the product, this contributes to insulation, cooling, sealing or helps with assembly.

The products that Henkel offers in the field of electric drive systems include:

  • Sealings
  • Thermal potting materials
  • Magnetic bonding
  • Impregnation service

In the following document from Henkel you will find many of these products listed in detail for electric drive systems, with details of the specific product properties:

Henkel Solutions for E-Mobility

Energy conversion systems

There can be various energy conversion systems in electric vehicles, including on-board chargers (OBC), inverters and DC/DC converters.

The products that Henkel offers in the field of energy conversion systems include:

  • Potting materials
  • Gap pads
  • Gap filler
  • Thermally conductive adhesives
  • Sealings

In the following document from Henkel you will find many of these products listed in detail for energy conversion systems, with details of the specific product properties:

Henkel Solutions for E-Mobility

Lightweight construction

The battery alone accounts for around 20 percent of the total weight of an electric car. Henkel helps to save weight in lightweight construction with structural adhesives. These structural adhesives can also be used to improve the rigidity of components. One of the major advantages: By building lighter electric vehicles, they can achieve a greater range.

Charging infrastructure

In addition to electric cars, the charging infrastructure is also crucial for the advancement of e-mobility. Henkel has solutions for sealing charging stations and for connection technology, for example, offering connection and protection solutions for cabling as well as housing seals.

Research and development

To ensure that Henkel can continue to offer the right products in the field of electromobility in the future, the company is investing in the research and development of new materials and new technology in this area. Henkel cooperates closely with manufacturers from the automotive and electronics industries, including the battery manufacturers that are so important for electromobility.

Henkel is working on cost-effective manufacturing processes. The battery alone accounts for 30 to 50 percent of the production costs of an electric vehicle. In view of the global challenges in climate, environmental and resource protection, Henkel is also focusing on sustainability in electromobility.

Henkel wants to be able to offer the right products for the electric cars of the future and has put together a so-called “Fuel the Future” team of experts from areas including battery production, battery recycling, modeling and simulation as well as science. Find out what other measures Henkel has taken to shape the future of electromobility in the following video:

More information on Henkel and e-mobility

The specialist wholesaler for cleanroom and ESD products abovo has been an authorized distributor for the Henkel Adhesive Technologies division Henkel Elektronik for over 15 years and since 2022 also for the Henkel Industry division.

If you would like more information about Henkel Adhesive Technologies products, please contact the Henkel experts at abovo at the following telephone number or e-mail address: