The key towards balancing the overall weight of cars depend on what the car is composed of. But take away all the peripherals inside of it, it all boils down to the bare boned car. And with that in mind, the type of steel used can perhaps be improved to create a lighter vehicle.
In a study released today by the Automotive Applications Council of AISI’s Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), researchers with Ducker Worldwide estimated that the use of advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) in 2009 model year light vehicles increased by more than four percent of total body weight from 2007, while the average weight per vehicle decreased by 163 pounds.
While more than half of the vehicles produced worldwide contain some amount of AHSS, the new BMW X6 leads the way with 32 percent of its body structure and closures manufactured from AHSS. Other new models with above-average AHSS body content include the new Chevrolet Traverse, Ford F-150 and Chrysler Town and Country.
According to the study, weight reduction will account for at least 25 percent of the necessary improvement in fuel economy, with advances in powertrain and other technologies – such as drag reduction, low-roll resistance tires and a 42-volt electrical system – making up the difference.
(Source) Press
Tags: aisi, bmw x6, body content, body structure, chevrolet traverse, chrysler town and country, drag reduction, ducker worldwide, ford f 150, fuel economy, high strength steels, light vehicles, new bmw, resistance tires, smdi, steel market, volt electrical system, weight reduction
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[...] used in producing cars have a bearing to which some companies have started checking out the steel that they are [...]