Winning application enhances safety in electric vehicle

Syensqo has won the Safety category at the 2024 SPE Innovation Awards North America. Recognized for its pioneering contribution to electric vehicle (EV) safety, the award-winning part is an advanced busbar cable support bracket, utilized in the 2025 Cadillac CELESTIQ, a flagship EV in General Motors’ lineup.

The award was presented at the 53rd Annual Automotive Innovation Awards Program on November 13, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. This event, established in 1970, is the oldest and largest recognition ceremony in the automotive and plastics industries.

The bracket, injection molded by Grand Traverse Plastics, is engineered to prevent thermal runaway and high-voltage arcing by minimizing cable motion through the use of high-performance, V0-rated PPS and PBT materials. The upper clips, made from Syensqo’s Ryton^® R-4-220 BL PPS, provide a rigid and secure connection to the busbars, meeting stringent retention requirements while also optimizing assembly efficiency.

Unlike metal brackets, this design delivers exceptional durability and thermal stability ensuring the 15kg busbar remains isolated without damaging its insulation. The use of specialty plastic materials also allows for a reliable and predictable grounding pathway, enhancing overall safety.

The innovative snap-fit design delivers over 240N of axial retention force with a single fastener per location, reducing the need for more than 10 fasteners per RESS. The installation requires just 45N of insertion force, making assembly ergonomically safe and significantly reducing operator fatigue. This efficiency not only improves production speed but also decreases scrap costs by up to 99%, reflecting significant advancements in sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

“We are proud to celebrate this significant achievement with our partners at General Motors,” said Laura Hirschhorn, Executive Key Account Manager at Syensqo. “Our collaboration and the use of advanced Ryton^® PPS have led to a component that sets a new benchmark for safety and production efficiency in the EV industry. This recognition highlights our commitment to innovative solutions that mitigate critical risks and accelerate the transition to electric mobility.”

The Cadillac CELESTIQ, featuring this award-winning technology, began production in December 2023. Both the vehicle and its components are available worldwide, continuing to push forward the boundaries of EV technology.