As the automotive industry moves away from traditional combustion engines to electric vehicles, the delivery of comfort to the vehicle's occupants and the battery's temperature control is proving to be a challenge.   
  
Flexible circuits can provide unique solutions to these problems by delivering heat directly to the battery, seats, floor mats, and steering wheels, improving the MPC (Miles Per Charge). Flexible printed heaters deliver heat more efficiently than traditional air circulation systems. 

Due to the demands of the Automotive vehicle purchaser (you), the interior of an automotive vehicle has transitioned to be a sophisticated computer on wheels. This trend started with the introduction of the first hybrid/electric vehicles and is becoming more evident every day in all new vehicle introductions. The desire to improve the customer experience has led Automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to replace electromechanical switches with touch sensor technology.   
 
As OEMs and tier-ones work to transition mechanical buttons and switches to touch sensors, flex circuits can play a key role. They can be integrated into tight, curved, or flat surfaces, converting plastic surfaces into smart surfaces. Flex circuits can meet these challenges while reducing assembly and build of material costs.   

Interior and exterior lighting is a key differentiator in the OEMs' sale of their models with the development of LEDs, Lasers, and OLED lighting. How many noted the first day run lights developed by Audi or the unique way the Audi signals a change in direction. OEMs and tier-ones balance their desire for differentiation while increasing the aerodynamics to increase MPG (miles per gallon) or MPC (miles per charge), dissipating the vehicles' heat.  
  
Flex circuits provide a unique trade-off by delivering an interconnect technology that allows for 3-dimensional solutions and thermal performance equivalent to metal core boards. The flexibility of the substrate offers reduced interconnects, lighter and smaller packaging, and system savings.  

Electrification in the automobile industry is happening; Monitoring the battery's state and health is a challenge. This requires a flexible and intelligent harness to interconnect to the individual cells, adapting to the expansion and contraction of the battery pack during charge/discharge cycles.  
  
Flexible Printed Circuits can deliver the cell link to the vehicle's electronics. The necessary electronic components can be surface mounted to the FPC, while the inherent flexibility allows for the battery pack's expansion/contraction. Flex Printed Circuits can deliver a smaller and lower weight solution that will enable better MPC (Miles per Charge).  

Requires the next generation passive seat sensor to provide proximity, approximated weight, and human presence. In addition, as the Automotive industry shifts to be autonomous, the vehicles evolve from passive to become more active, determining the occupants' health and well-being.   
 
Flexible circuits as they are in Health Solutions provide the ideal sensor technology for occupancy and biometric sensing. As an industry leader commented, the Vehicle seat is the ideal wearable device, and flex circuit technology is the ideal solution for curved, tight spaces and flat surfaces.   

As the automotive industry moves toward creating safer vehicles developing a better connection between the driver and the vehicle is paramount. The steering wheel becomes the key connection point for interfacing effectively, integrating humans and computers, working together for a safer and more comfortable driving experience.  
  
Flat Cable Tapes provide the ideal connection technology for curved, tight spaces and flat surfaces, capable of repeatedly turning back on itself for years of use.