Magna International Inc. has completed validation testing on the multi-material lightweight vehicle (MMLV) concept it developed in cooperation with Ford and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The tests show that the MMLV design offers clear advantages in terms of global warming potential and the use of energy.
Based on a production version the 2013 Ford Fusion, the MMLV concept shows the potential benefits of combining lightweight vehicle technologies with a downsized, high-output engine to reduce greenhouse gases and total energy, according to Swamy Kotagiri, Magna's Chief Technical Officer.
The life cycle assessment (LCA) study predicts that the cradle-to-grave total net savings of the MMLV relative to the cradle-to-grave LCA of the 2013 Fusion resulted in significant environmental benefits of 16% improvement in global warming potential and 16% improvement in total primary energy (fuel usage plus the energy needed to produce and recycle materials).
The MMLV concept is defined by a new aluminum-intensive passenger-car structure. It also makes use of carbon fibre, magnesium, and titanium. This helps reduce the weight of the midsize Fusion to that of a sub-compact car like the 2013 Ford Fiesta.
Source: CNW