EVS: What's In Store For Rubber Auto Components?

Evs are going to rule our roads sooner or later. The crucial question here is: How far will this affect the rubber auto components sector? Though there are no clear estimations of the impact of EVs on the auto components industry, indications are that innovative and light-weight rubber and plastic components will have immense scope in the EV era.

- A. Saj Mathews

Electric vehicles (EVs) are completely different from the internal-combustion engine vehicles we see on the roads today. Crucially, internal-combustion cars are put together using parts from about 150 component manufacturers. Making EVs, by contrast, will probably involve about 50 suppliers at the most. The supplier industry is going to be disrupted. There's going to be a mad scramble in the industry for new gen auto components.

Today’s automobiles have about 1,800 to 2,000 moving parts. By comparison, a Tesla has just about 18. And since there’s a huge amount of electronics, the fixes when something goes wrong will be very, very different, say experts

Different in many ways

EVs are not like cars that we have seen and driven so far. Consider the startling fact that EVs don’t really have brakes as we understand them. One of the world’s most successful EVs, the Nissan Leaf for instance, comes with what’s called ‘one pedal driving’. Just taking your foot off the accelerator will bring the car to a stop quite sharply. There are two pedals; but the second pedal is only for emergency braking. That will take some time getting used to it; but, at a different level, it means we won’t need all those companies that make brakes and brake pads and parts associated with brakes.

Also, EVs don’t have transmission systems like the ones in ICE cars. In fact, some estimates are that about 60% of component manufacturers would be rendered redundant once EVs start production. Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM) estimates that India’s auto industry employs directly and indirectly about 33 million people, a figure that includes mechanics and drivers. Obviously, vast numbers could be made jobless by Evs, add experts.