Automotive Lightweighting: A Brief Outline

Abstract

Automotive emissions account for a substantial percentage of the planet’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and the numbers have been steadily soaring. Environmental bodies and governments are therefore constantly enforcing tighter legislations and as a result automotive OEMs are forced to ensure decreased emissions. While safety requirements and luxurious interiors have resulted in a gain of weight over the decades thus increasing emissions, OEMs are persistently being asked to cut down emissions from fossil fuel driven vehicles, especially given the rise of electric vehicles in recent years. OEMs have thus started replacing parts originally made with heavier materials with lighter materials in order to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle—also known as lightweighting. While the original cast iron engine blocks have long been replaced with steels followed by Aluminium, Magnesium alloys and the more recent carbon fibre for certain engine parts; studies have also started exploring the benefits of advanced composites such as cellulose based composites.