According to a new study on the impact of steel, magnesium and aluminium front end parts on the energy use and CO2 emissions of passenger cars, aluminium was the environmental winner. Lifecycle analysis shows that an aluminium solution yields both a 20 percent energy and CO2 emissions reduction, compared to the traditional steel structure.
A new sustainability study on automotive materials was released at the Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) 2010 World Congress in Detroit. The study highlights aluminium’s and magnesium’s superior life cycle emissions reduction and energy savings benefits. Initiated to explore the potential for increased use of magnesium in automobiles, the Magnesium Front End Research Development (MFERD) project conducted a full life cycle assessment study on the impact of steel, magnesium and aluminium front end parts in an average passenger car.
The study shows that aluminium can significantly contribute to making cars greener without compromising on comfort and safety. At a time when the European legislator is putting emphasis on reducing CO2 emissions from automotive and transport, it can’t be stressed enough that one of the most straightforward technological options to meet our ambitious objectives is lightweighting, and science has proven it once again. This should be properly valued by dedicated European legislation on cars and light commercial vehicles.
The aluminium industry is a leader among metals suppliers in advocating full life cycle analysis (LCA). LCA encompasses not only the fuel economy benefits, but also the emissions related to mining, refining, and recycling. On this basis, every kilo of aluminium replacing steel and/or cast iron saves approximately 20kg of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the vehicle.
To download the full report, click here.
