Electric Vehicles (EVs) Revive Interest in Leaf Spring Technology

August 3, 2024

While independent rear suspensions dominate passenger EVs, leaf springs are making a comeback in electric commercial vehicles. Startups like Rivian and Bollinger Motors are using multi-stage parabolic leaf springs to handle the added weight of battery packs while simplifying chassis design.

Advantages for EVs:

Cost-effective compared to air suspensions.

Space-efficient, freeing room for batteries.

Proven reliability in heavy-load conditions.

Experts predict a 5% annual growth in the leaf spring market by 2030, driven by EV adoption in emerging economies. However, traditional automakers like GM are hedging bets, developing hybrid suspension systems for future models.