US seeks lighter materials for more efficient vehicles

The US hopes that stronger, lighter materials can provide one way to improve the fuel efficiency of the cars and trucks on its roads.

With that goal in mind, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is launching seven new projects to speed up the development of next-generation vehicles.

Organizations leading the projects include Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, General Motors, Caterpillar and Ford.

According to the DOE, “Advanced materials are essential for boosting the fuel economy of cars and trucks while maintaining and improving safety and performance.”

The agency notes, “Replacing cast iron and traditional steel components with lightweight materials — including advanced high-strength steel, magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber composites — allows vehicle manufacturers to include additional safety devices, integrated electronic systems and emissions control equipment on vehicles without increasing their weight. Using lighter materials also reduces a vehicle’s fuel consumption. Reducing a vehicle’s weight by just 10% can improve the fuel economy by 6 to 8%.”

Two critical areas of research involve developing better computer models to improve carbon-fiber and high-strength steel materials, and creating stronger, more lightweight alloys for automotive engines.

These projects are part of President Barack Obama’s “Materials Genome Initiative,” a program launched last year to speed the discovery and development of faster, less expensive and more predictable advanced materials for everything from solar cells and food packaging to cars and trucks.