The United States
According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), cars and light-duty trucks make up about 60 percent of transportation emissions in the US. That is larger than the power sector in the US, and it has been since 2015. Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, most of which are carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) established Phase I of the US National Program for emissions control in 2010. As part of Phase II (covering automotive model years 2017-2025) of the program, fuel economy standards have been set to reduce average global warming emissions of new passenger cars and light trucks even further. The goal is to improve fuel economy through a combination of fuel efficiency improvements and through optimizing related vehicle components such as air conditioners.

Uncertainty in the US
The EPA and the NHTSA have proposed a set of new and revised standards. The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks (also called the SAFE Vehicles Rule) is the first formal step. Among the proposed rules is a preferred alternative that locks in model year 2020 standards until 2026. Another, according to the EPA, is the establishment of a new 50-state passenger car and light truck fuel economy and tailpipe CO₂ emissions standard covering 2021 through 2026.

In addition, the EPA is proposing to revoke California's authority to establish GHG emissions standards. A California-led coalition of states has sued to challenge that.

European Union
In April the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted Regulation (EU) 2019/631, which set CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in the EU after 2020. The document sets a 15 percent emission reduction target for 2025 on both sets of vehicles, with a 37.5 percent reduction set for cars and a 31 percent reduction for vans by 2030.

The European Union has also set a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

China
A new program for the world's largest auto market, known as China 6, is scheduled to start in July 2020. These regulations are among the most aggressive in the world. For the first time, China light-duty emissions standards will include more stringent emission limits and compliance procedures than the EU, which China has followed up to this point.

While the EU is rolling out its regulations in five-year stages, China 6 includes a first phase from 2020-2023 (China 6a) followed by China 6b, which will impose tougher standards in July of 2023. Immediately as part of 6a, China will apply particulate number (PN) limits to all gasoline powered cars (in Europe, the PN only applies to gasoline direct injection vehicles). That means far more cars in China, including hybrids, will require gasoline particulate filters (GPFs) to hit the particulate emission targets.

An additional challenge: in China, emission control devices in light-duty vehicles must perform to meet the new standards for 160,000 km (about 100,000 mi) and 200,000 km (about 124,000 mi) in 2023.

Japan
A historical leader in the creation and adoption of emissions and fuel efficiency standards, Japan is on the tail end of an effort to reduce transportation sector GHG emissions 40 percent from 2000 levels. In June, Japan also issued new fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles starting in model year 2030. For gas vehicles, an average of 25.4 km per liter will be required – a 32.4 percent improvement over fiscal year 2016.

Emission Control Solutions from 3M
As emission control evolves and automotive OEM and Tier suppliers tighten variability requirements in emission control systems, 3M continues to provide solutions to help meet increasingly stringent rules and regulations worldwide. Our 3M™ Interam™ Brand Products include a full range of mat mounts and thermal insulation designed to maximize performance and fuel efficiency, as well as add durability to catalytic converter assemblies and other emission control devices.

3M™ Interam™ Mat Mount and 3M™ Interam™ Thermal Insulation products are designed to retain heat in the exhaust system and protect surrounding componentry. Materials are available for high-temperature and low-temperature systems in gasoline and diesel applications. Specific solutions include intumescent, non-intumescent and hybrid mat mounts, endcone insulation, heat-shield insulation, erosion protection materials and more. We are constantly designing and improving product process performance for long term durability.

Our support for engine exhaust emission control includes testing resources, concept consultation, design and technical expertise at every phase of system development.

For more information, visit our 3M Powertrain – ICE Solutions page.

(Sources:)
https://www.c2es.org/content/regulating-transportation-sector-carbon-emissions
https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/fuel-efficiency/fuel-economy-basics.html
https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/timeline-major-accomplishments-transportation-air
https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100XI4W.pdf (PDF, 212 Kb)
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-epa-and-dot-propose-fuel-economy-standards-my-2021-2026-vehicles
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/regulation_en
https://www.nqa.com/en-gb/resources/legal-updates/june-2019/co2-emission-performance
https://www.transportpolicy.net/standard/china-light-duty-emissions/
https://www.lubrizoladditives360.com/china-6-worlds-challenging-emissions-standard/
https://theicct.org/japan (2020)
https://theicct.org/publications/japan-2030-fuel-economy-standards (2030)

Structural adhesives are viable for use along with – and increasingly, in place of – mechanical fasteners. One-part and toughened two-part epoxies deliver similar bonding performance of welds, rivets, screws, clinching and other attachment methods. Structural adhesive tapes allow for precise, clean and easy application. But bonding performance is just the start.

Bonding Metal to Metal
Because structural adhesives are flowable to cover entire surfaces evenly, they can create very consistent stress distribution in high-load applications. This helps manufacturers avoid stress points in bonded metal where fasteners are used. They are effective for virtually eliminating galvanic corrosion and the related surface prep required when using only metal fasteners. In processes such as hem flange bonding, some of our structural adhesives can be cured by spot induction for faster processing at lower temperatures. Pre-curing is not necessary at all, and adhesives on 3M structural adhesive liquids and tapes cure during standard e-coat baking.

The adhesives on structural adhesive tapes are formulated to flow during cure to fit the bond area you need and can also fill gaps to help seal metal structures from environmental incursion.

Dissimilar Materials
3M structural adhesives are very effective for bonding dissimilar materials such as metal to composites and metal to plastics. They can be formulated for hard-to-bond materials like LSE plastics, polyethylene, TPO, HDPE, PP and powdercoats. All of this means you can create assemblies that you couldn't if mechanical fasteners were used alone.

Assembly
3M works with the world's major suppliers of automated equipment for automotive OEM. We consistently review our liquid adhesives for viscosity, helping ensure that they will flow smoothly through automated equipment with minimal downtime. Our toughened two-part epoxy adhesives can be mixed on demand with static mix nozzles and specially designed cartridges or metered by robotic application heads. In addition, our 3M structural adhesive tapes feature extended liners that can be removed sequentially in automated processes.

Learn more about the advantages of adhesives and tapes for material assembly and adhesive bonding, including factors to consider and the specific opportunities and challenges different types of substrates and assemblies present. You can also learn more about the science of adhesion, including how adhesion works and such factors as surface science, joint design and adhesive chemistries.

All of this is part of our decades-long commitment to automotive manufacturing. Visit the 3M automotive OEM and Tier page for more information.

Whatever your applications or substrates, our experts are happy to help you find the right adhesive or tape for your process. To learn more, get in touch with us.

Also, if the xEV battery doesn’t consistently remain at or near its optimal temperature, driving range suffers – which is not ideal when range remains a primary hurdle for bringing electric vehicles into the mainstream.

3M has introduced 3M™ Battery Enhancement Material – an engineered material ideal for providing insulation between the battery pack and the battery pack lid. This conformable, compressible, gap-filling material fits where other materials can’t and is available slit, laminated, die-cut and edge-sealed to individual customer specifications. It can be applied to the top, bottom and wrapped around the battery pack.

Unlike fiberglass, aerogels or other insulators, our UL 94 V-0 flame resistant material can prevent outside temperatures from heating the battery by as much as 33%. By keeping the battery within its optimal range in warmer temperatures, 3M BEM helps maintain battery storage capacity and performance over the lifetime of the electric vehicle. It also helps warm the battery as much as 20% faster in colder temperatures and reduces battery warmup time by 30-50% at -6.7°C to 15°C (20°F to 59°F) and keeps the battery warmer longer.

According to the results of 3M tests, 3M BEM can boost range by 20-40% depending on battery design, environmental and interior vehicle temperatures and consumer driving habits.

Connect with a 3M expert today to learn more about how 3M Battery Enhancement Material can help improve your xEV designs.

During the expo we demonstrated some of our latest work at the 3M Automotive Electrification Booth #1110. Using automated equipment right on site, we showed how 3M adhesives, sealants and liquid gap fillers can be implemented into a range of OEM production processes.

We also brought some of our smartest people to participate in the eight-track conference. Dele Fayemi, 3M Application Development Specialist, and Mark Grenfell, 3M Global R&D & Project Manager explored best practices for direct contact cooling in battery pack design. They also talked about 3M™ Battery Enhancement Material – a non-conventional, cure-in-place xEV sealant for conventional battery packs.

For the Battery Design & Manufacturing track, Brandon Bartling, 3M Advanced Research Specialist, covered a holistic thermal management approach to battery design – maximizing tradeoffs between designing high-energy-density battery packs and meeting new standards and vehicle safety regulations.

Other highlights:

• Oversized 3D models showing various 3M solutions across the electric battery and EV powertrain
• 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids for direct contact thermal management

Need Help Finding the Right Solution?
3M is constantly working to meet the evolving challenges of automotive OEM and Tier suppliers worldwide. For more information about 3M solutions for electric vehicle batteries and automotive electrification, get in touch with us.

At 3M, acoustic management is one of our core technology platforms. We also work across platforms to including nonwovens, adhesives and others for truly science-based NVH and buzz, squeak and rattle (BSR) solutions for automotive OEMs.

You may be familiar with 3M™ Thinsulate™ Acoustic Insulation, our well-known brand featuring nonwoven sound absorbing polyester (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fibers. Many versions, including our latest 3M™ Thinsulate™ Acoustic Insulation TF Series (PDF, 149 Kb), are developed for excellent compression and recovery so you can incorporate them into very thin or irregular spaces without adding significant weight or cost.

We also recently introduced 3M™ Engineered Damping Material. A scientific advancement in constrained layer damping (CLD), it applies across the same areas as traditional CLDs at half the weight. It's adhesive-backed, so it can be used on vertical, overhead and irregular surfaces as well as trunks, floors, rear wheel arches, spare tire areas and more.

To help prevent buzz, squeak and rattle (BSR) in automotive assemblies, we offer a wide range of adhesive transfer tapes, featuring liners that can be easily removed using automated equipment. These tapes are excellent for applying adhesive precisely to thin areas and forming permanent bonds, even to dissimilar surfaces.

Need Help Finding the Right Solution?
3M is constantly working to meet the evolving challenges of automotive OEM and Tier suppliers worldwide. For more information about 3M automotive NVH solutions, get in touch with us.

Your choice of adhesive may relate to the metal and composite substrates you choose, but just as often it's not just about the bond strength. If you've specified an adhesive between electric vehicle battery cells, for example, the adhesive must now be strong and flexible. Efficiency is increasingly important. If your application calls for a two-part adhesive, cure time is a factor. So is viscosity: adhesive materials must flow more freely through your automated equipment.

Fortunately, 3M can help you reinforce your knowledge of bonding and joining. Visit our Bonding and Assembly eLearning Academy. There's a broad range of information on substrate surfaces, joint design, adhesive chemistries and more. You can also register for courses on our Introduction to Structural Adhesives modules.

You can also visit our Bonding and Joining Solutions for Auto Interiors page for information on solutions specific to automotive interior design and assembly.

Need Help Finding the Right Solution?
3M is constantly working to meet the evolving challenges of automotive OEM and Tier suppliers worldwide. For more information about 3M resources for bonding and joining, get in touch with us.

Adhesive transfer and double-coated tapes allow for the use of pressure-sensitive adhesives – no curing or squeeze-out – precisely where you need them. 3M™ Conformable Double Coated Tapes, for example, are part of a broader group of tapes developed for mobile devices. They are excellent for consistent anti-lift bonding to flat or curved display and touch screens.

As the number and the value of instrument panel components increases, consider 3M™ VHB™ Tapes. They combine a strong, durable modified acrylic adhesive with the conformability of a viscoelastic acrylic foam core that resists impact and vibration and also delivers a permanent seal against moisture and contaminants. This is the same 3M technology that has been used for decades to attach exterior automotive trim.

Need Help Finding the Right Solution?
3M is constantly working to meet the evolving challenges of automotive OEM and Tier suppliers worldwide. For more information about 3M double-coated tapes, adhesive transfer tapes and other adhesive solutions, get in touch with us.