Press Release, 18 September 2025
You know that satisfying click when you slide into an EV, turn the key (or press the button), and feel nothing but smooth power? What you don’t see is just as crucial: the bottom plate of the battery, hidden from view, but under constant assault from swapping, wear, and corrosion. Today, a breakthrough by NIO and AkzoNobel doesn’t just protect that invisible workhorse—it extends its life threefold, potentially changing how long EVs really last.
Why This Breakthrough Matters: More Than Just Tough Coatings
Electric vehicles are only as strong as their weakest (often unseen) components. Enter battery bottom plates—those under-body guardians that take abrasion, environmental stress, and repeated handling from battery swapping.
NIO, which offers automated Power Swap stations where drivers exchange depleted batteries rather than wait for charging, saw a problem: frequent swaps damage those plates. AkzoNobel saw opportunity: co-develop a protective coating to endure that treatment.
Innovation in Action: The Interpon A1000 Coating
What makes this new product stand out?
| Feature | Old Standard | New Innovation |
|---|---|---|
| Service life of coating | ~5 years | ~15 years (triple) (SpecialChem) |
| Coating thickness reduction | — | Reduced by 70% (SpecialChem) |
| Weight savings per vehicle | — | ~2.2 kg lighter bottom plate |
- Developed under the Interpon A1000 range, this powder coating made for EV battery bottom plates is engineered for durability.
- It doesn’t just last longer—it also slashes material usage, reduces weight, and cuts down on environmental impact.
From Lab to Road: Real-World Impact
- Mass production began November 2024, with the coating already used on ~80,000 NIO EVs across multiple models.
- The tech was developed at AkzoNobel’s Shanghai Technology Center and is manufactured at the Changzhou plant.
Voices From the Field
“The innovative coating we’ve jointly developed with AkzoNobel has greatly enhanced the reliability and service life of our battery systems. It supports NIO’s 15-year battery longevity strategy and marks a critical breakthrough in EV material innovation.”
— Shizhe Tzeng, Vice-President Battery System, NIO.
“We’re extremely proud to win this prestigious award together with NIO. It’s recognition for our joint commitment to groundbreaking innovation… our leadership in EV coating technology and our continued focus on promoting the sustainable development of the industry.”
— Jeff Jirak, Managing Director, AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business.
Sustainability & Industry Impacts
This isn’t just about making a part last longer. It’s about rethinking how EVs are built:
- Environmental gains:
- Zero VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions.
- 95% powder recycling rate.
- Savings of over 2 GWh in production line electricity annually.
- Material & weight reductions: Cuts in coating thickness by 70%, shedding ~2.2 kg per vehicle. Lighter vehicles mean better efficiency and less energy consumed driving.
- Longevity promise: Extending protective coating lifespan from 5 to 15 years matches NIO’s 15-year battery longevity ambition. A win for consumers, sustainability, and total cost of ownership.
Why the Award Was More Than Cosmetic
The 2025 Altair Enlighten Award, in the Sustainable Product category, isn’t just a trophy. It’s recognition from peers that this coating is:
- A real leap in lightweighting and sustainability for automotive materials.
- A sign that functional materials like coatings are no longer “finishing touches” but core to EV engineering.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for EV Drivers & Makers
This partnership between NIO and AkzoNobel signals a future where:
- EVs become more durable, with less maintenance and fewer material-replacements.
- Sustainable materials shift from optional to essential—coatings, insulation, recyclables, etc.
- Battery swapping systems are more viable for longer-term deployment.
- Other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) will likely follow suit, pushing for similar innovations.
