Direct current (DC) fast chargers for electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular, with the total number in use expected to increase by five times by 2025. These high-speed chargers allow consumers to recharge their vehicle to near full in less than 30 minutes instead of several hours. While DC chargers offer consumers more convenience, the heat and power they create requires high-quality components that can withstand a harsh operating environment. Electroplated silver is a commonly used EV connector material in slower systems, but it doesn't offer the material hardness needed to resist wear in rapid charge applications.
Materion created iON EV™ clad to better meet the needs of electric vehicle charger connections. iON EV clad is a proprietary silver-based alloy that combines the reliable qualities of each metal to create a drop-in replacement for pure silver. This highly conductive clad material enhances the contact surface's friction characteristics and enables it to withstand the high current environment of fast EV charger connectors. Its outstanding wear performance and exceptional high-temperature stability enable long-life durability in use.
ION EV CLAD CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS
Our versatility with product configurations allows you to customize a solution that will maximize your product's functionality. iON EV clad offers:
• A range of base material options that enables a high degree of design flexibility
• Thicknesses from 7 - 40 μm
• Base thicknesses from 0.10 - 2 mm
• Ni-Clad diffusion barrier for high temperature & high-performance applications
• Stainless steel backing for increased stiffness
Leading and emerging technology companies rely on our extensive experience and specialized clad metals expertise to engineer product solutions for their applications.
Benefits
- Increased wear resistance
- Improved performance over life cycle
Applications
- DC charger connectors
