Future Steel Vehicle: New Project Aimed at Reducing GHG
In the quest for more environmentally friendly automobiles, global steel companies have aims to reinvent the steel automobile body.
As the consensus builds for comprehensive reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across international boundaries and industries, global steel companies are reinventing the deployment of steel to reduce GHG emissions, while still providing safe and affordable personal transportation for an increasing mobile global society.
A new project, named Future Steel Vehicle, will develop steel auto body concepts that address alternative powertrains, such as advanced hybrid, electric, and fuel cell systems. The goal of the research is the demonstration of safe, lightweight steel bodies for future vehicles that reduce GHG emissions over the entire life cycle. WorldAutoSteel announced the Future Steel Vehicle project at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Bali last month.
At present, much effort is focused on reducing tailpipe emissions during the driving life of vehicles. From a total vehicle cradle-to-grave life cycle perspective, steel is the most effective material for reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This project will develop concepts that should help automakers reduce GHG emissions over the entire vehicle life.
Future Steel Vehicle, a multimillion dollar multiyear program, will consist of three phases: Phase I Engineering Study; Phase II Concept Designs; and Phase III Demonstration Hardware.
WorldAutoSteel has commissioned the world’s largest independent automotive engineering partner, EDAG Engineering + Design AG, headquartered in Fulda, Germany, to complete the first phase Engineering Study. Development work will be based at EDAG’s Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA facility (www.EDAG.com). Phase I will examine changes affected by new powertrain systems that may radically alter the structure of automobiles and will provide input for selection of Phase II design concepts. Phase I results are expected in 2008.
Future Steel Vehicle is the fifth in a series of auto steel research projects, following on the heels of the UltraLight Steel Auto Body (ULSAB), UltraLight Steel Auto Closures (ULSAC) and UltraLight Steel Auto Suspensions (ULSAS) and ULSAB-AVC (Advanced Vehicle Concepts). (See links for more information on these projects.)
These previous research projects revolutionized the kinds of steels normally applied to auto bodies, as well as demonstrated innovative steel vehicle designs. The application of these research findings is seen globally in many vehicles on the road today. The Future Steel Vehicle project is expected to stimulate the same development in upcoming alternative vehicles.
As the project progresses, expect to see new information posted here at www.worldautosteel.org.
