DSM Engineering Materials (Heerlen, The Netherlands; www.dsm.com) is expanding its comparative tracking index (CTI) test laboratory, which is used to measure the electrical breakdown or tracking properties of an insulating material over time, in order to meet high voltage requirements for next generation electric vehicles (EVs) and e-mobility systems. The CTI test laboratory will install advanced equipment to validate tracking resistance to voltages up to 1,500V AC and 1,000V DC, according to DSM.

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Long charging times of EV batteries remain a key barrier to the wider adoption of EVs, the company says. Shortening charging times requires higher battery voltages of 1,000V or more. Manufacturers will need insulation plastics with better resistance to high voltages to enable faster charging at the right safety and reliability levels, it added.

DSM’s lineup of insulation materials meets or exceeds application safety standards, is used as a light-weight replacement to metal in structural mobility applications while retaining strength and thermal performance, and reduce the carbon footprint of the component.