How can we meet the CAFE requirements?

• Improvements to, with respect to vehicle cost (Highest yield)
   
  • Propulsion systems
  • Drive trains
  • Coefficient of drag
  • Tire rolling resistance
     
• Use of alternative fuels (Medium to High Yield)
• Light weighting with steel (Medium Yield)
• Hybrid powertrains (Medium Yield)

• Aluminum Sheet (Lowest Yield!!)

The Future

• CAFÉ does not require or consider weight savings in vehicles (i.e. a lead car could pass CAFÉ someday)
  
  
• Aluminum sheet is limited to closures at this time for North America and is a temporary fix for power train technology not yet available.
  
  
• Aluminum extrusions (the space frame concept) makes use of aluminum in a more optimal means, but suffers from major cost penalties for manufacture and is only applicable to low volume vehicles.
  
  
• Other technical challenges facing aluminum applications developers: Formability, Joining, Recyclability and a significant cost disadvantage compared to steel.
  
  
• The primary reason for not using aluminum and using Steel on vehicles of the future: COST, Safety, & Protecting the Environment.

 Back | Top | Next