One of the automotive industry's most sought-after innovation accolades – the 2025 Altair Enlighten Award – has been secured by AkzoNobel's Powder Coatings division and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO, in recognition of their collaborative development of a groundbreaking product designed to support NIO's ambitious 15-year EV battery longevity target.
Specifically engineered to safeguard electric battery bottom plates, this specially formulated product from the Interpon A1000 range will extend the lifespan of battery shielding coatings threefold compared to existing solutions, making AkzoNobel the first coatings company to claim the honour in the Sustainable Product category.
Rather than conventional charging methods, NIO allows drivers to rapidly swap a depleted EV battery for a freshly charged one at its automated Power Swap stations. However, frequent battery exchanges may subject the bottom plate to abrasion, corrosion and mechanical deterioration.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the collision repair industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the African automotive sector forward.
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