EV Charging Point Adhesives

The world is changing rapidly, and with it, the number of people who are charging rapidly. Whether due to government incentives to do so, the feel-good factor of going green, or the desire to keep up with the latest trends, more and more people are now turning to electric vehicles (EVs) for their next car purchase. This in turn has led to huge opportunities for manufacturers of EV charging points. Indeed, the worldwide market for these is predicted to grow to a staggering 111.9 billion USD by 2028. Compared to its 17.6 billion value in 2021, this is growth worth shouting about.

Yet despite these strong forecasts, the EV charging industry currently faces niggling reliability issues. Recent investigations have shown that in some areas of the UK, up to 10% of charging points aren’t working on a given day, with this figure at around 20% in the US. In order for the electric vehicle industry to reach its full potential, these reliability issues need solving, and quickly.

Reliability, and the subsequent role of adhesives in EV charging point manufacture

Part of this reliability problem is caused by inadequate software, like payment systems not working or charging point apps crashing. Another part of the issue comes down to less than optimal build quality of the charging unit, which seems to be an issue for manufacturers both big and small. Enter stage right: EV charging point adhesives!

The right adhesive serves to ensure a stronger, more reliable charging unit that can better withstand both internal and external stressors, such as harsh weather conditions. Secondly, as a result of this, they help to keep repair and servicing costs down. The right adhesive also ensures that servicing, when required, can be carried out easily, all the while offering top-notch protection to the charging unit when it isn’t. They typically also offer heat and other types of resistance due to how hot these charging units can become.

Here at Permabond, we consider our adhesive offerings to be a great match for the EV charging point market. We have adhesives that serve a variety of different applications within this industry, which you can find listed below.

EV charging point adhesive applications

Potting adhesives for EV charger connectors:

The role of potting adhesives in EV charger connector cables is critical. They ensure a stronger, more durable charging cable by encapsulating the components within the connector housing. They also keep the electrical wiring within the charger firmly in place. These connectors are put in and pulled out of car chargers multiple times a day. Therefore, any adhesive used must be tough and able to withstand heat, impact, and also fire. Our MT382 modified 2-part epoxy is ideal for potting these applications. It offers excellent adhesion to nylon, ABS, polycarbonate and other plastics, as well as various metals. It’s black and curable at different mix ratios depending on the level of flexibility required in the final product. A fully fire-retardant version is available on request – contact Permabond for more information and to discuss your project needs.

Threadlocking:

Permabond offers a variety of threadlockers to suit almost any application. Our HH131 anaerobic threadlocker has very high heat resistance (up to 230°C). A1042 has a rapid cure and high impact resistance, as well as being heat resistant up to 150°C. This adhesive, in particular, is great for assembling metal parts that may need to be disassembled and/or repaired later on, as is our MM115 medium-strength threadlocker.

Gasketing:

LH197 is a highly flexible metal gasketing adhesive, ideal for bonding dissimilar metals where differential thermal expansion and contraction might be an issue. MH196 offers less flexibility but excellent heat resistance, up to 200°C. Our TA4611 toughened acrylic adhesive is great for bonding plastic EV charger housing units.

Conformal Coatings:

Permabond UV681 UV-light curing adhesive is ideally suited for conformal coating applications such as those found in both AC and DC charging stations. It has low viscosity which ensures a smooth, bubble-free coating, as well as high temperature resistance.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the solutions that we offer for the EV charging industry. For more information about our offerings or to discuss a custom product, check out our EV charging points brochure, or alternatively please get in touch with us.