ATLANTA — Aluminum supplier Novelis has designed what it bills as the world's first aluminum sheet battery enclosure for the burgeoning electric vehicle market.
The global metal supplier said the aluminum design offers automakers and electric-vehicle battery suppliers a 50 percent weight reduction from comparable steel enclosures.
The electric battery presents a new market opportunity for aluminum suppliers such as Novelis, which is owned by India's Aditya Birla Group and supplies aluminum to more than 30 automakers, including Ford Motor Co., Jaguar Land Rover and Nio.
By 2030, electrified vehicles, including plug-ins, could account for 25 to 30 percent of Novelis' Atlanta-based automotive business. The supplier's automotive division has seen a 25 percent compounded annual growth rate for the past five years.