Application Area 10: New energy vehicles
Core adopted: PC Hardened Sheets, PC Insulation Sheets, PC Super Wear-Resistant Sheets. PC sheets weigh only half as much as glass of the same thickness, with impact resistance 250 times that of glass. They are easy to process into complex curved surfaces and can block over 99% of UV rays, achieving a balance of lightweight, high safety and design freedom. They are mainly used for body components such as panoramic sunroofs/canopies and vehicle windows.
Polycarbonate for new-energy vehicles: weight, optics and IATF 16949
Automotive polycarbonate is specified against three things a car part must satisfy simultaneously — weight reduction that extends EV range, optical or structural performance, and full IATF 16949 traceability. For a new-energy vehicle, every kilogram removed is range added, which is why glazing, lighting and structural parts increasingly move from glass and metal to polycarbonate.
Weight and range
Polycarbonate is roughly half the weight of glass at equal volume. Replacing glazing, lamp lenses and trim panels with PC removes mass exactly where an EV feels it — reducing the energy needed to move the vehicle and extending range. The same swap also lowers the centre of gravity when it replaces roof glazing, a secondary handling benefit.
Optical grade for lighting and glazing
Headlamp lenses, light guides and glazing need optical-grade polycarbonate with high light transmission and low haze, plus a hard coat to survive road abrasion and cleaning. Uncoated PC scratches and yellows; automotive optical parts use co-extruded UV protection and abrasion-resistant coatings so clarity and colour hold over the vehicle life.
IATF 16949 traceability is the real barrier to entry
Supplying an automotive OEM or Tier 1 is not just a material question — it is a documentation question. Parts must come with IATF 16949 quality management, PPAP submission and full lot traceability. A supplier without this cannot enter the automotive supply chain regardless of sheet quality, which is why the certification, not the price, is usually the deciding factor.
Typical parts and what to confirm
- Lightweight glazing, roof and trim panels
- Lamp lenses and light-guide components
- Battery and structural panels (see also energy-storage grades)
- Confirm: IATF 16949 / PPAP requirement, optical or structural grade, coating, and volume schedule
Tell us the part and whether IATF 16949 documentation is required. We serve automotive-chain buyers with traceable lots and PPAP support, and will say up front where a part needs a specific grade.