Greater Use of Strong, Lightweight Materials to Reduce Vehicle Weight by 25 to 70 Percent
What's the automotive industry's most exotic substance? Porsche sells a three-spoke steering wheel made out of the stuff for $1,690, while a shift knob
and brake handle painstakingly formed out of the same material will cost $1,240. The lightweight yet ultra-strong weave is so popular among Porschephiles that the German automaker also offers a special interior package, which includes that same gear knob, plus trim on the doors and dashboard for a cool $8,690.
Porsche makes an entire car out of the expensive material, resulting in an equally pricey $440,000 USD Carrera GT, while BMW's upcoming M6 will feature a roof panel made from the strong, lightweight material, reducing its overall center of gravity.
If you hadn't guessed already, the subject of this article is carbon fibre and a
certain consortium's desire to produce it for less money than currently possible. The group is made up of the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), a collective of like-minded automakers including General Motors, Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler.
Of course, every manufacturer of products that would benefit from higher-strength, lighter weight materials, within the automotive industry as well as within just about any other segment, would appreciate access to affordable carbon fibre. Not only would cars at both ends of the economic scale get lighter and stronger, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while increasing safety, but bicycles could be made better, vacuum cleaners more maneuverable, backpacks and camping gear easier to carry, and so on.
What's the automotive industry's most exotic substance? Porsche sells a three-spoke steering wheel made out of the stuff for $1,690, while a shift knob
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| Porsche makes an entire car out of expensive carbon fibre, resulting in an equally pricey $440,000 USD Carrera GT. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Porsche makes an entire car out of the expensive material, resulting in an equally pricey $440,000 USD Carrera GT, while BMW's upcoming M6 will feature a roof panel made from the strong, lightweight material, reducing its overall center of gravity.
If you hadn't guessed already, the subject of this article is carbon fibre and a
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| BMW's upcoming M6 will feature a roof panel made from the strong, lightweight material, reducing its overall center of gravity. (Photo: BMW Canada) |
Of course, every manufacturer of products that would benefit from higher-strength, lighter weight materials, within the automotive industry as well as within just about any other segment, would appreciate access to affordable carbon fibre. Not only would cars at both ends of the economic scale get lighter and stronger, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while increasing safety, but bicycles could be made better, vacuum cleaners more maneuverable, backpacks and camping gear easier to carry, and so on.