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Report: Steel Could Match Aluminum in Weight Saving
Advanced high-strength steel for vehicle body structures could soon match the weight of today's aluminum-bodied designs, according to a new analysis by the World Steel Assn.'s WorldAutoSteel unit.
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Advanced high-strength steel for vehicle body structures could soon match the weight of today's aluminum-bodied designs, according to a new analysis by the World Steel Assn.'s WorldAutoSteel unit.
The group's latest design study was presented on Monday at the SAE 2013 World Congress in Detroit. More than 20 upcoming advanced steels are due between 2015 and 2020 that could cut the weight of a baseline car 39% to 177 kg (390 lbs), the analysis concludes.
Researchers say the weight loss can be achieved while meeting all crash standards and at a cost comparable to current steel structures.
The new report focuses on the use of next-generation steels in electric, fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles. But WorldAutoSteel says results apply to all vehicles, regardless of powertrain.
The group used four of the upcoming advanced steels to help trim an additional 12 kg (26 lb) from the results achieved by a similar analysis in 2011. The latest design exercise also reconfigures the test car's front rail geometry.
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