Steel industry to launch FutureSteelVehicle program focused on lightweighting for advanced powertrain vehicles
25 March 2011
The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), will launch FutureSteelVehicle (FSV) at the 10th Annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar Wednesday, 18 May in Livonia, Mich.
FSV is a global, multi-million dollar program that delivers auto body concepts addressing different steel structures for advanced powertrains, including advanced hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. The program introduces new advanced steel grades and manufacturing technologies to the industry’s advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) portfolio.
Over the past decade, automakers’use of AHSS has outpaced the growth rate of competing materials, making it the fastest growing automotive lightweighting material, according to Ducker Worldwide, as cited by SMDI.
Despite the rapid growth, we are just scratching the surface on steel lightweighting. Weight reduction will be important to these newly designed powertrains. Car manufacturers will use structural mass reduction to reduce battery and motor sizes. Therefore, the choice of material will become critical. The steel industry has met the challenge of affordable weight reduction, safety and environmental responsibility for the last 10 years. Implementing FSV project results will continue this commitment over the next 10 to 15 years.
—Ronald Krupitzer, vice president, automotive market for SMDI
Yes, the challenge was met with steel vehicles going from 1000 lbs to 5000 lbs over the last 10 decades or so. Will they do an about face? Will they manage to meet 1911 weight? Composite materials may have more success.
Posted by: HarveyD | 25 March 2011 at 08:49 AM
I'm still waiting for transparent aluminum. Didn't Scotty come back in time and invent that for us in the late 1980's???
Posted by: DaveD | 25 March 2011 at 11:34 AM
If you compare a 2000 Mercedes SL with a 2000 Corvette, you will see similar wheel base, engine size and overall size. The Mercedes is steel weighing over 4000 pounds. The Corvette is a steel space frame and plastic panels at 3200 pounds. This shows what can be done in weight reduction if you want to.
Posted by: SJC | 25 March 2011 at 03:27 PM