While other strategies such as engine technologies (smaller engines, diesel engines and utilizing turbochargers), start-stop, and economy mode (50% of cylinders operating) admittedly have a greater effect on improving fuel economy than lightweighting, there’s no doubting that utilizing plastics to eliminate vehicle mass remains an important initiative at automakers. And that’s not to forget the fact that plastics also play an important role in the abovementioned drivetrain-related developments. Opportunities also abound for plastics in electric and hybrid electric vehicles.
Notes Paul Hardy, Product Manager, Performance Materials at A. Schulman: “For every 10% weight reduction there is about a 5–7% fuel economy improvement, therefore for every 300 lb. removed from a car, you pick up about 1.6 mpg.” This itself will not enable automakers to meet the CAFE mandate of improving fuel economy from 36.6 mpg in 2017 to 54.5 mpg in 2025. “Regardless,” notes Hardy, “driving weight out of parts plays an important role in a small way to meeting the mandated fuel economy.”
Hardy will be discussing lightweighting through plastics in detail at the inaugural automotive conference— Lightweighting Strategy & Drivetrain Efficiency for All Supplier Tiers & OEMs— to be held in conjunction with Advanced Design & Manufacturing (ADM) Cleveland on March 29 and 30 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, OH.