EV Suppliers Cited for Lightweighting Innovation

TROY, MI—Bridgestone and General Motors are both recipients of the 2024 Altair Enlighten Award for sustainability and lightweighting advancements. The companies were separately cited for electric vehicle-related technology. The annual awards program is sponsored by Altair and the Center for Automotive Research (CAR).

“The Enlighten Award [honors] the automotive industry’s finest innovations in sustainable technology,” says James Scapa, CEO of Altair. “We are thrilled to once again recognize the organizations creating a more sustainable future. This year’s winners can consider themselves the best innovators meeting those challenging targets.”

“Each edition of the Enlighten Award showcases the products, processes and organizations that are ushering in the next generation of groundbreaking automotive technology,” adds Alan Amici, president and CEO of CAR.

Bridgestone Americas was runner-up in the “sustainable product” category for its 

Turanza EV Tire. It is manufactured with 50 percent renewable and recycled materials, one of the highest percentages among commercially available replacement tires. The product features Bridgestone ENLITEN technology to optimize performance and improve tire life span.

General Motors and Syensqo were the winners in the “module lightweighting” category for their 

high-performance thermoplastic battery module structure. A team of engineers from the two companies collaboratively designed an EV subassembly that boasts a 37 percent weight reduction and a 25 percent cost savings compared to traditional aluminum.

Key features include enhanced vehicle performance through precision injection molding, streamlined component consolidation for simplified assembly, and a unique cell-lock feature that stabilizes battery cells. In addition, the design eliminates multiple components and processes, which further optimizes efficiency.