You may have noticed Ford Motor Co. has been getting a lot of ink lately on its roll out of the 2015 F-150 pickup made with aluminum body panels, reducing its weight 700 pounds and getting better mileage (up to 30 mpg on the highway). Last week, I spoke with an executive from the engineering consultancy that worked closely with Ford to test and design this next generation pickup. As automakers approach the 54.5 mpg by 2025 fuel economy standard in the US, zero emission vehicles are critical; however, to get past the compliance tipping point, light-weighting is expected to play an even larger role.
David Mason, senior vice president, global automotive at Altair (a global company with its US headquarters in Troy, Mich.), said that the company has been working with automakers for more than 10 years on light-weighting design. Years ago, Altair focused mainly on its computer-based algorithm for simulations such as crash tests. Today, clients are accessing its HyperWorks optimization technology for predictery performance in all categories. Safety is certainly still a priority, but now aerodynamics, noise, and stability, are way up on the list. Fuel economy, environmental concerns, CO2, and CAFE standards are behind most of it. “OEMs are struggling to achieve fuel economy targets,” Mason said.
Altair has created two initiatives to educate interested people on light-weighting and to support light-weight materials’ role in new vehicle design and manufacturing. The Altair Enlighten Award was kicked off at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) Management Briefing Seminars last year in Traverse City, Mich. BASF Corp. took the first award for its thermoplastic composite front seat pan used by General Motors. Those interested can fill out the nominee form for the next award that will be presented August 4, 2014, at the next CAR conference. The award was launched to encourage public awareness and to bring recognition and creative competition for light-weighting designers.
Jon LeSage serves as Editor and Publisher of Green Auto Market, which tracks the business of green cars, fuels, and technologies.
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