US car manufacturer orders electric car connectors from Norma
According to the company, up to 90,000 electric cars are to be equipped annually by 2034. The order is worth around 14 million euros. The connectors will be manufactured by Norma Group at its factory in St. Clair, Michigan, USA, and shipped from there to another supplier.
As is often the case in the supplier industry, Norma does not disclose the name of the customer. “We have a longstanding relationship with the OEM, as we have been supplying them with joining technology for combustion engine cars for many years. We are now excited to collaborate on the road towards electric mobility,” says Norma CEO Mark Wilhelms. “With our engineering expertise, global quality standards and certifications, we are an ideal development partner for car makers broadening their portfolio of low-emission mobility.”
However, Norma Group itself provides an important clue as to who the customer is. “The new BEV platform consists of cost-efficient electric vehicles, aiming to support expansion of electric mobility among a wide range of customers,” the announcement states. In mid-August, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced the ‘Ford Universal EV Platform’ in very similar terms, on which the carmaker plans to offer a mid-size electric pickup truck starting in 2027 at prices starting at $30,000. The new platform and the more efficient production principle are intended to help reach new customer groups with more affordable electric cars than before. It therefore stands to reason that Norma Group will supply the eM-Safe connector to Ford.
According to the supplier, the connector is specially tailored to the requirements of battery-electric vehicles. “The eM Safe quick connector is specifically tailored to meet requirements in battery-electric vehicles and includes a flow-optimized geometry to support a consistent pressure level of the cooling fluid,” the Norma Group wrote. “With two sealing O-rings, the connector offers a redundancy, helping to prevent leaks. In the assembly process, the connection can only be locked when the spigot is correctly positioned and securely connected. This so-called Poka-Yoke function prevents assembly error, adding extra safety to the connection in the battery thermal management system.” What’s more, the connector has been designed in accordance with SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) standards and is suitable for international manufacturers.
“In electric vehicles, leak-free connections are vital to delivering safe, reliable vehicle performance,” said Michael Potts, President Mobility & New Energy at Norma Group. “Our eM Safe quick connector stands out by combining top-tier safety, effortless handling, and exceptional performance – making it the smart choice for modern e-mobility systems.”
This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.
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