In today's fast-paced world, transportation has become a vital aspect of everyday life. However, with the increasing demand for fuel-efficient and eco-friendly vehicles, the automotive industry is shifting towards electric and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), thereby increasing the demand for high-voltage applications. To cater to this growing need, Furukawa Electric, a leading manufacturer of electric wire and cable, has developed a new rectangular magnet wire that is set to revolutionize the industry.
Rectangular magnet wires are ideal for high-density and high-voltage applications in electric and hybrid vehicles. Unlike round wires, rectangular wires have a higher packing density, enabling more efficient use of the winding space inside an electric motor. Additionally, the rectangular shape allows for more turns of wire to be wound onto a single coil, which results in higher electromagnetic efficiency. This, in turn, leads to smaller, lighter, and more efficient motors.
Furukawa Electric's new rectangular magnet wire is coated with extruded resin insulation, which provides high-voltage resistance up to 1,400-1,500V. This enables the wire to be used for driving motors inside HEVs and electric vehicles (EVs). Furthermore, the wire's enamel-insulated coil is coated with an outer resin insulator, allowing the insulating layer to be thicker, up to a maximum of 100 micrometers. This means that the wire can endure high-voltage usage without requiring phase-to-phase insulating paper, which is typically used in conventional round wires.
One of the significant benefits of Furukawa Electric's rectangular magnet wire is its ability to reduce the weight of vehicles. The conventional magnet wire used in Toyota's AQUA required 10 kg of wire per car. However, the new rectangular magnet wire shows the same performance with only 7 kg of consumption, resulting in smaller and lighter motors. As a result, the vehicles will become more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly.
In response to the growing demand for high-voltage applications, Furukawa Electric plans to expand its monthly production of rectangular magnet wire by 50% to 300 tonnes within this year, with an expenditure of slightly less than 1 billion yen at its Mie plant in Japan. This expansion will enable the company to meet the increasing demand for AQUA and supply the product to other HEV/EV manufacturers.
In conclusion, Furukawa Electric's new rectangular magnet wire is a game-changer in the electrical wire and cable industry. Its rectangular shape, high-density winding, and high-voltage resistance make it the ideal choice for high-voltage applications in today's electric and hybrid vehicles. As the automotive industry continues to move towards eco-friendly solutions, the demand for high-voltage applications will only increase, making the rectangular magnet wire the future of electrical wire and cable.