The drive toward vehicle electrification, autonomous capabilities and associated infrastructure is creating a highly promising market opportunity. And companies the world over – both OEMs and suppliers – are keen to make the most of new business.

DuPont has announced AHEAD (Accelerating Hybrid-Electric Autonomous Driving), a new initiative which aims to make use of its experience and expertise in materials science and electronics that offer advantages for vehicle electrification and autonomous vehicle markets.

“The creation of a dedicated team and offering targeting vehicle electrification, autonomy and connectivity makes sense for DuPont. It reinforces our history in transportation (100+ years), our experience, expertise and broad differentiated portfolio of technology and solutions,” said Randy Stone, business president, DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers. “Our AHEAD™ approach builds on recent successes, and by pairing our leading material position with our unmatched capabilities in electronics, we can extend our market leadership in the vehicle electrification and supporting infrastructure space.”

Utilising adhesives, high-performance elastomers, engineered thermoplastics, fluids/specialty lubricants, electronic materials, high-performance fibers and safety materials, AHEAD will provide innovative solutions for:
- Lightweighting
- Battery pack components and assembly
- Thermal management/safety
- Electric motors
- Powertrain/chassis
- Electrical/electronic applications for improved automation including driver assists and self-driving capabilities
- Support infrastructure (plug-in and induction charging stations)

DuPont says it and plans to feature AHEAD technologies at several upcoming industry events beginning with the opening of its Silicon Valley Technology Center.