Report: Nissan Targeting 15% Reduction in Vehicle Weight for 10% Improvement in Fuel Consumption
31 December 2007
The Nikkei reports that Nissan Motor Co. is targeting an average 15% reduction in the weight of its vehicles by 2015, compared to the 2005 lineup, to reduce fuel consumption by 10%.
Toyota has also set a weight-reduction goal for midsize cars set at approximately 10%.
To achieve significant weight reductions, Nissan aims to leverage its close ties with materials and autoparts manufacturers and re-examine materials selection and parts design when remodeling vehicles. This effort is expected to result in increased use of new materials, such as carbon fiber compounds, fiberglass-reinforced plastic, magnesium alloys, and ultrahigh-tensile steel sheet.
According to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, a 100kg reduction in the weight of a 1- to 1.5-ton car improves mileage by 1 km per liter.
good start, but they need to/can do do more, a lot more. this is the low hanging fruit of improved efficiency. all you need to do is convince the public that weight does nto equal safety, which is what the dinosaurs of this business keep wanting you to believe.
Posted by: | 31 December 2007 at 01:26 PM
Thank God! I was wondering how long it would take car companies to realize that lowering weight would be a win-win for them. Here's why:
-Less materials, meaning lower production costs (while still being able to sell the vehicle for the same amount of or more money).
-Reputation as leader in efficiency.
-Less materials, meaning less of an initial impact on the environment.
Now we just need for them to recognize that aerodynamics are just as important as weight in efficiency, and we'll all be driving Apteras.
Posted by: Ross | 31 December 2007 at 03:57 PM
Excellent news!
But shedding vehicle weight isn't easy. The vast majority of customers want the car with the most goodies (5-star crash rating, Excellent Insurance Institute rating, NAV system, video, styling, power, etc, etc)
Ditching weight, and keeping a competitive list of goodies, is going to be very difficult. The Honda Accord has gained something like 50% weight since the '75 model (~1800 lbs to ~3300 lbs).
Aggressive use of aluminum, magnesium, carbon fiber - and to a minor degree, also high strength steels - will drive cost. So far the mass marketplace hasn't "told" the manufacturers that they want to pay the premium. If you want progress to proceed faster - demand to pay thousands of dollars above sticker price. Large profit margins is what gets the attention of the marketplace - and drives aggressive change.
(That's why everytime some new type of TV show or movie hits big - 6-12 monthes later there are 4 or 5 other shows or movies like it)
Posted by: shane | 31 December 2007 at 06:46 PM
Good move on the part of Toyota and Nissan. Both companies also have more efficient engines coming in the next few years, so combined with weight reduction the mileage improvement will be significant (20% or more compared to today's Toyota and Nissan models).
We shall see if other automakers follow Toyota and Nissan's lead.
Posted by: toyo | 01 January 2008 at 02:07 PM
Hope the 'new materials'(specially for interiors) will have less toxic volatility than present materials(re: Nissan Versa & S.Korean vehicles). Go to healthycar.org for listing of cars with materials emissions, toxicity & brand vehicles of concern.
Posted by: litesong | 02 January 2008 at 09:07 PM