As the automotive industry shifts gears toward a cleaner, connected future, one thing is clear: the race toward electrification is accelerating. At the core of this transformation lies a fundamental truth - materials matter. High-performance polymers and composites are no longer just enablers; they are now critical components driving the performance, safety, and sustainability of next-generation electric vehicles (EVs).
At Syensqo, we’re helping to set the pace. Through breakthrough material solutions and deep technical expertise, we are empowering OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to overcome key challenges in electrification and mobility.
Megatrends shaping the future of mobility
From sustainability and AI to urbanization and connectivity, several global megatrends are reshaping the automotive landscape.
Sustainability: Consumers and regulators alike are demanding greener mobility. This is accelerating the shift to electric vehicles, where lightweighting and clean energy become competitive advantages.
Artificial Intelligence: While autonomous vehicles get the spotlight, AI is already transforming everything from navigation systems to predictive maintenance.
Urbanization: Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms and smart traffic systems are reimagining how we move in dense urban environments.
Connectivity: Vehicles are evolving into IoT platforms—exchanging real-time data with infrastructure, other vehicles, and the energy grid.
These forces converge in a common need: high-performance, scalable, and sustainable materials that unlock new possibilities in design, efficiency, and experience.
Electrifying mobility: new challenges, new material demands
While EV adoption is rising, with 25% of global car sales being electric in 2023, two concerns remain at the forefront: range and safety.
Supporting this shift are high-voltage architectures, such as 800-volt systems, which enable direct current (DC) fast charging. These systems help address range anxiety by reducing charging time significantly. However, operating at higher voltages and temperatures brings new material demands, requiring specialty polymers with enhanced thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties.
The increased weight of electric vehicles, largely due to battery packs and structural reinforcements, also directly impacts vehicle efficiency. Meanwhile, components like power electronics, electric motors, and batteries operate under extreme conditions that demand superior thermal and electrical performance.
To solve these challenges, OEMs must go beyond conventional materials. That’s where Syensqo steps in, with polymers and composites engineered to perform under thermal and electrical stress, reduce weight, and increase energy efficiency.
Pushing the limits of lightweighting
Syensqo has been a pioneer in lightweighting for over four decades. Our high-performance thermoplastics, long fibre thermoplastics, and composite materials are enabling the next level of structural design freedom, without compromising safety or strength.
Materials like Ryton® PPS, Amodel® PPA, and Xencor™ Xtreme have been successfully used to replace die-cast aluminum in conventional powertrain applications for over 30 years. Today, these materials are enabling further weight reduction in components such as electric motor parts, battery modules, and end plates, while also being applied in coolant lines to replace metal.
Power electronics and thermal management: the polymer advantage
As voltages and power densities increase in EV systems, material performance becomes non-negotiable.
Syensqo’s specialty polymers are helping manufacturers meet these demands by:
We are also supporting direct charging infrastructure through material solutions used in high-voltage connectors and battery busbars, where both Amodel® PPA and Ryton® PPS provide excellent performance under high thermal and electrical loads.
And with Amodel® PPA and Ryton® PPS produced using 100% renewable energy, we’re not just improving performance, we’re reducing environmental impact too.
Formula E: the ultimate testing ground for innovation
Our partnership with the DS Penske Formula E team is so much more than a sponsorship; it’s a collaboration in innovation.
Formula E serves as a high-stakes proving ground where lightweighting, heat management, and power electronics must all perform flawlessly under extreme conditions. What we learn on the track helps inform our materials development for everyday mobility challenges.
At Syensqo, innovation extends beyond product development to how we collaborate with our partners.
Whether it’s helping an OEM reduce vehicle weight, improving the thermal resilience of a powertrain component, or co-developing circular solutions, we bring deep technical insight and agility to every engagement.
We're also addressing emerging challenges in safety and autonomy. For example:
Our Xencor™ Xtreme material is being developed to help mitigate battery thermal runaway
A new Amodel® PPA grade is designed specifically for pyrofuses, providing enhanced safety in BEVs
We’re enabling future ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) technologies with specialty materials that support sensor housing and performance
Every customer challenge is an opportunity to co-innovate- combining their vision with our materials science to drive smarter, faster electrification.
Looking ahead: driving efficiency, safety, and sustainability
As the auto industry accelerates toward a more electrified and connected future, the need for advanced materials will only intensify. Syensqo is uniquely positioned to address OEMs' most pressing challenges, offering high-performance materials that not only meet technical requirements but also help reduce total cost of ownership by improving energy efficiency.
We're also investing in sustainable material attributes: lower carbon footprint and high circular content. Our ECHO portfolio includes solutions with bio-based and recycled content, empowering manufacturers and OEMs to meet both performance and sustainability targets.
We're helping shape the future of electrification, and we’re just getting started.
