Auto Parts Asia — August 2017

AutoPartsAsia | AUGUST 2017 | 49

2020 2050

Petrol 60 12

Diesel 14 2

Hybrid 8 12

CNG/LPG 6 12

Plug-in-Hybrid 4 60

Electric (EV) 2 47

Hydrogen FC 1 30

TOTAL VOLUME 95 175

(Source: http://www.FutureTimeLine.net)

Million Units Produced a Year in

Kg of CO2 per kg of production

Steel 2.5

Aluminum 12.5

Carbon Fiber + Plastic 23

Magnesium 30

(Source: WorldAutoSteel)

end-of-life-vehicle materials.

Advanced High Strength

Steel

Lightweight solutions need to be
incorporated into the vehicle design
without compromising quality,
comfort, safety or competitiveness.
In this process steel is reinventing
itself to help the automotive
industry. New, innovative steel
types like advanced high strength
steel (AHSS) are poised to take
the lead. They enable safer, lighter

body designs, and improve fuel

economy and reduce greenhouse

gas emissions at little, or no extra

cost to manufacturers or consumers.

The third generation of AHSS, has

microstructures on the scale of

nanometers (‘Nano Steel’), which is

smaller than those found in traditional

steels. It provides the high strength

required by automotive engineers as

well as significant ductility – very high

strength with the formability of mild

steel. In short, the higher a material’s

formability, the more an OEM

(Original Equipment Manufacturer)

can optimize a part’s geometry, and

thus the thinner the cross-section

needed. AHSS does not sacrifice

on strength, while providing high

ductility, thus giving component

manufacturers the chance to reduce

weight, while maintaining stiffness.

For example, engineers are replacing

conventional steels with AHSS for

the body-in-white (BIW) to reduce the

overall weight of the vehicle. Thanks

to this weight savings, the powertrain

can be downsized to achieve the

same vehicle performance as that of

vehicles using heavier, conventional

steel in their structures.

This reduction in weight means

less steel is needed for each

vehicle — and less emissions from

the production of steel itself. Fuel

savings also decrease emissions

from driving the vehicle, while still

meeting five-star crash test ratings.

Auto parts manufacturers need

to look at AHSS to help OEM’s

in meeting the current and future

directives and to gain competitive

advantage in the industry that is

undergoing rapid transformation.

NB: Photos are representational.