Auto Parts Asia — August 2017

48 | AutoPartsAsia | AUGUST 2017

TECHNOLOGY

A

ll is not well with the

traditional American

automotive industry. Sure,

it has become profitable

after the economic malaise of the

past decade, and has benefited from

record unit sales since a few years.

However, while the stock market has

reached new highs, the share prices

of both Ford and GM have declined

significantly.

The automotive industry is

facing tough new standards from

around the world that call for

enhanced safety and minimum

environmental impact. It is going

to be a tough balancing act –

to improve safety, quality, fuel

efficiency and recyclability, while

lowering emissions, keeping up

with technology and doing them all

with competitive pricing! To make

matters even more challenging,

the light vehicle power- plant mix is

forecast to change by 2050:

A blend of lightweight materials

is commonly used to increase

fuel efficiency, or driving range

for electric vehicles, and reduce

CO 2 emissions. But, this mix of

materials often makes a car less

recyclable. The European Union

(EU) Directive 2000/53/EC aims to

make dismantling and recycling

of end-of-life-vehicles more

environment-friendly. The target is at

least 95percent reuse and recovery.

Meeting these requirements

is largely the responsibility of

automotive manufacturers. They

have to make smarter choices for

their vehicles to comply with these

directives.

Use Of Steel

Comprising nearly 55 percent

vehicle weight, about 200 million

tonnes of steel products are

used a year in the production of

automotives worldwide. In addition

to the body panels, the other

major steel components critical

for crash worthiness are: Bumper

reinforcement; Seat frames; Door

beams; Chassis components with

high fatigue strength; Structural

body parts (cross-members and sill

reinforcement), and Battery tunnels

for electric vehicles.

For weight

reduction, other

materials, especially

aluminum with

density of about

1/3rd of steel is

preferred. However,

steel has cost

advantage over

other potential

choices:

The steel industry also claims that

production of steel is eco-friendly,

with lower greenhouse gas emission

per kg of material produced, than the

other automotive materials:

Additionally, steel can be recycled

fully and indefinitely without

loss of properties. Owing to its

ferromagnetic properties, it can be

easily separated from the rest of the

By Louis Rumao

Relative Material Cost / kg

Steel 1

Aluminum 2.5

Magnesium 3

Carbon Fibre + Plastic 5

A 10 percent reduction in vehicle weight improves fuel efficiency by about six percent

Steel Can Compete In

Lightweighting Quest