Evonik opens a laboratory to develop EV motor materials, marking a significant step toward advancing electric mobility in the Asia-Pacific region. The specialty chemicals company has officially launched its PEEK Rectangular Magnet Wire Lab at its Shanghai Innovation Park in April 2026, targeting the growing demand for high-performance materials in electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid systems.
Strengthening EV Material Capabilities in Asia-Pacific
With the rapid expansion of the new-energy vehicle (NEV) market across China and Asia-Pacific, the demand for advanced motor materials has surged. Evonik opens a laboratory to develop EV motor materials to support this shift, focusing on polyether ether ketone (PEEK) powder-based applications. These materials are crucial for improving the efficiency, durability, and reliability of electric-drive systems.
According to company leadership, the region’s EV supply chain is evolving quickly, with increasing expectations for performance and faster delivery of critical materials. The new lab aims to meet these challenges by enabling innovation and collaboration with partners across the value chain.
Focus on High-Performance PEEK Solutions
The lab is designed to advance Evonik’s Vestakeep PEEK solutions, which are known for their exceptional thermal stability and electrical insulation properties. Evonik opens a laboratory to develop EV motor materials with a focus on enhancing resistance to higher temperatures, voltages, and demanding operating conditions.
Key technical areas include the following:
- Optimization of processing parameters
- Advanced coating structure design
- Improved adhesion performance
- Precise control of wire dimensions and concentricity
These developments are essential as EV motors require increasingly robust magnet wires to support higher power density and efficiency.
Comprehensive Testing and Validation
A major highlight of the facility is its capability to conduct extensive reliability testing. In collaboration with third-party organizations, the lab will evaluate critical electrical properties such as breakdown voltage (BDV), partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV), corona resistance, and oil-aging resistance.
Additionally, the lab will support sample preparation, validation of new PEEK formulations, and benchmarking against existing materials. This will help manufacturers accelerate product development and reduce time to market.
Supporting the Future of Electric Mobility
As EV technology evolves, traditional insulation materials are struggling to keep up with rising performance demands. High-performance polymers like PEEK offer a viable solution due to their superior heat resistance and long-term stability.
By bridging material innovation with full-system validation, Evonik opens a laboratory to develop EV motor materials that can be scaled for mass production. The initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration with automotive manufacturers and drive the next generation of efficient and reliable electric-drive systems across the Asia-Pacific market.
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