In response to demand for materials that make vehicles lighter, quieter and more fuel-efficient in automotives, Autoneum has added effective noise and heat protection components for electric vehicles with Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ to its portfolio.
AThe Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ line includes materials for carpet systems, inner dashes and floor insulators. This innovative technology is based on a novel fibrous material that acts as an insulator or absorber depending on its stiffness, thus ensuring optimum noise protection. Its respective acoustic insulation or absorption capacity can be defined as required by means of computer-controlled 3D simulations developed in-house. Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ parts are also very effective thermal insulators and shield the passenger cabin from cooling and heating, thereby reducing the amount of energy needed for air conditioning. They are therefore predestined for use in electric vehicles whose batteries typically use 20% of charge for temperature regulation. Additionally, the stiffness of lightweight carpet systems, inner dashes and floor insulators made of Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ makes them easier to handle and mount into vehicles.
Interior floor components based on Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ are not only environmentally friendly thanks to their high content of recycled cotton fibers, they are also up to 50% lighter than conventional mass-spring insulations. Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ thus makes an important contribution towards greater driving range for electric vehicles and less fuel consumption and emission output for vehicles with a combustion engine.
As the market and innovation leader for acoustic and thermal management in vehicles, Autoneum will for the first time be supplying inner dashes based on Hybrid-Acoustics ECO+ for a fully electric vehicle model produced by a European OEM as of early 2018. In Europe, the lightweight components are manufactured among others at Autoneum’s French plant in Ons-en-Bray, France.
