TROY, MI—A variety of electric vehicles received recognition in the Society of Plastics Engineers’ 2023 Automotive Innovation Awards. The theme of the 52nd annual competition was “Plastics: Charging Into the Automotive Revolution.”
The Ford F-150 Lightning won the Grand Award. It also was the Body Interior Category winner for the frunk (photo above) located at the front end of the vehicle. Suppliers of the part include Cascade Engineering Inc. and Celanese Corp.
By converting from compression molded painted SMC to injection molded MIC LFT-PP to produce this large Class A composite frunk (currently the industry’s largest), mass was reduced 48 percent. In addition, productivity was increased due to a 37 percent cycle time reduction. The cost and environmental burden of paint were eliminated, seal interfaces were improved, secondary routering of holes is no longer needed and the frunk is fully recyclable at end of life. A 4,000- ton injection press and a tool equipped with a 16-drop hot runner system are used to mold parts.
Ford Motor Co. also received the Sustainability Award for the one-piece frunk used on the 2024 Mustang Mach E.
In the Body Exterior category, Rivian Automotive Inc. was recognized for the thermoplastic split gate used on the 2023 R1S sport utility vehicle. Magna delivers the subassembly as a ready-to-install module.
The Automotive Division of SPE also honored General Motors in several categories, including Electric and Autonomous Vehicle Systems (battery disconnect unit in the 2023 GMC Hummer EV supplied by Lear Corp. and BASF Corp.); Materials (battery module side plates used in the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, which replaced mass by 37 percent and cost 55 by percent); and Safety (intumescent terminal covers used in the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq).
