New energy vehicles, including pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles, although different from traditional fuel vehicles in power system, still need to use a lot of steel in the body, chassis and some key components, including seamless tubes. The following is a careful summary of the following five specific requirements of new energy vehicles for seamless steel tubes.
1. Lightweight requirements
In order to compensate for the extra weight of the battery pack, new energy vehicles have higher requirements for lightweight. Therefore, higher strength and thinner wall seamless steel pipes are needed to reduce the weight of the vehicle body and chassis, and improve driving range and energy efficiency.
Application of ultra-high-strength steel: With the advancement of material technology, the application of ultra-high-strength steel has gradually increased, which allows seamless steel tubes to further reduce wall thickness and achieve lightweight while ensuring strength.
Application of aluminum alloy or other lightweight alloys: Although lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy are increasingly used in new energy vehicles, due to limitations in cost, strength, and processing technology, steel, especially high-strength seamless steel pipes, still plays an important role in the body structure.
2. Security requirements
High-strength body structure: Seamless steel pipes can be used to manufacture body frames, longitudinal beams, cross beams, pillars and other structural parts, providing high strength and rigidity, improving the collision safety of the vehicle, and protecting the passengers and battery packs in the vehicle.
Battery pack protection: The battery pack is the core component of new energy vehicles and requires strict protection. High-strength seamless steel tubes can be used to manufacture the frame or shell of the battery pack to provide additional protection to prevent the battery from being damaged in a collision.
Anti-collision beam: Seamless steel tubes can be used to manufacture door anti-collision beams, front and rear bumpers, etc., to improve the passive safety of the vehicle.
3. Parts Demand
Chassis system
Suspension system: Seamless steel pipes are used to manufacture control arms, stabilizer bars, shock absorbers and other suspension components, providing the necessary strength, rigidity and elasticity to ensure the vehicle's handling and ride comfort. Relevant information mentions that seamless steel pipes are used for shock absorption in electric vehicles, which illustrates the application of seamless steel pipes in the chassis system of new energy vehicles.
Subframe: Seamless steel pipes are used to manufacture subframes, which connect the body and suspension system and withstand the impact and vibration from the wheels.
Steering system: Seamless steel tubes are used to manufacture steering shafts and other components to ensure steering accuracy and reliability.
Drivetrain (Hybrid Electric Vehicles)
Hybrid vehicles still need parts such as drive shafts, and seamless steel tubes can be used to manufacture these parts to transmit the power of the engine.
Thermal Management System
Battery thermal management: The batteries of new energy vehicles require effective thermal management to ensure their performance and life. Seamless steel tubes can be used to manufacture pipes for battery cooling or heating systems.
Motor thermal management: The motor will generate heat during operation and needs to be dissipated. Seamless steel tubes can be used to manufacture pipes for the motor cooling system.
Other components: such as seat frames, hydraulic system components, etc.
4. Material performance requirements
High strength: Meets the requirements of lightweight and safety.
High toughness: Improves impact resistance and fatigue resistance.
Good welding performance: facilitates the manufacture and assembly of car bodies and parts.
Good corrosion resistance: Resist corrosion from various environmental media, such as humid air, salt spray, chemicals, etc. In particular, battery leakage may cause electrolyte to corrode the steel pipe, so corrosion resistance is particularly important.
High dimensional accuracy: Meet the assembly requirements of precision parts.
Conclusion
The demand for seamless steel tubes from new energy vehicles is mainly reflected in terms of lightweight, safety, components and material performance. With the continuous development of new energy vehicle technology, the performance requirements for seamless steel tubes are becoming higher and higher, such as higher strength, better corrosion resistance, and more precise dimensional accuracy. Seamless steel tube companies need to strengthen technological research and development and innovation to develop high-performance products that meet the needs of the new energy vehicle market. When choosing seamless steel pipes, you must be discerning and choose Permanent Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which has excellent reputation and strong strength.
Read more: How to lmprove the International Competitiveness of Seamless Tubes?
