WorldAutoSteel Global Members Advance Research
Projects at Bi-annual Summit
Costa Mesa, Calif., 23 May 2008 — At a two-day WorldAutoSteel project review summit, global steelmakers combined resources to advance projects that will add to the knowledge database for the development of environmentally responsible automobiles.
The summit shared results of studies on emerging new steel applications making car bodies lighter, stronger and safer, updated members on the Future Steel Vehicle (FSV) initiative - a multi-million Euro programme that focuses on future power train technologies and their impacts on future steel automotive use. The summit also provided a state of the art comparison model to assess vehicle CO2 emissions from steel and other competitive materials based on a full Life Cycle Assessment - as opposed to only evaluating tailpipe emissions - ensuring sound input for automakers and governmental agencies to compare CO2 impact from different material selections.
This programme combines the resources of the global steel industry and is a genuine commitment to demonstrate automotive steel performance advantages; take its responsibility in the Climate Change debate, stating that there is a critical need for use of life cycle assessment methodology for automotive design decisions; and to contribute to and invest in innovative new solutions in future steel designs. Individual briefings with external key audiences to share findings of this WorldAutoSteel programme are scheduled in the USA and Europe; to date, meetings have been held with several NGOs and automotive associations plus The Wall Street Journal, while member companies and regional organizations contact automotive customers directly.
“The WorldAutoSteel summit is critical to coordinate our efforts around the globe," said Ed Opbroek, WorldAutoSteel Director. "It provides a forum for every member to contribute his or her input to the direction and advancement of these important objectives.”
The summit also included a communication workshop designed to develop consistent global messages among all members for external communication. At the end of the summit, members participated in a hydrogen-fueled hybrid and fuel cell vehicle Ride/Drive event at Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., in Lake Forest, Calif., supplier to the FSV programme, to review the latest in these powertrains and to get hands-on understanding of the technologies being assessed for FSV.
“One of our most important aims at WorldAutoSteel is to combine resources to provide practical information to our customers,” said Opbroek. “Our history has shown the positive impact this work has had around the world. We are here today working to make sure that this positive impact continues into the future.”
Regular updates will be provided on an on-going basis as results and deliverables become available. The next major WorldAutoSteel meeting is scheduled on 11 - 13 November 2008 in Seoul, Korea.
For further information, please contact:
Contacts:
Kathleen Hickey
Communications, WorldAutoSteel
P: +1 734.905.0062
E: khickey@worldautosteel.org
Cees ten Broek
Director Communications, WorldAutoSteel
P: + 32 2 702 89 33
E: cees.tenbroek@worldautosteel.org
