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AISI to Participate in Future Steel Vehicle Global Initiative
12/18/2007 - The American Iron and Steel Institute announces plans to participate in the Future Steel Vehicle project, a global research initiative focused on the mitigation of automotive greenhouse gas emissions.
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced that it will participate in the Future Steel Vehicle project, a global research initiative focused on the mitigation of automotive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
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Regulations that consider only the vehicle-use phase can encourage use of low-density, GHG-intensive materials that provide somewhat lighter weight components. However, this may have the unintended result of increasing GHG emissions over the vehicle's total life cycle.
ISO standards require life cycle assessment, which accounts for the combined GHG emissions from all phases of a product's life. With life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, alternative materials such as aluminum, magnesium and plastics are viewed less favorably, as their production requires more energy and their total GHG emissions contribution per kilogram is five to 20 times more than steel.
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Through this project—the fifth in a series of international research initiatives—participants will work together to develop steel auto body concepts that address alternative powertrains, such as advanced hybrid, electric and fuel cell systems. Project goals include the demonstration of safe, structurally efficient steel bodies for future vehicles that reduce GHG emissions over the entire vehicle life.
Members of AISI’s Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) will represent AISI on the Future Steel Vehicle project, which is a WorldAutosteel research initiative. AAC includes most of the automotive steel producers in North America, and WorldAutosteel is the International Iron and Steel Institute's automotive group,
A multi-million-dollar, multi-year program, Future Steel Vehicle will consist of three phases: Phase I: Engineering Study; Phase II: Concept Designs; and Phase III: Demonstration Hardware.
WorldAutoSteel has commissioned the world's largest independent automotive engineering partner, EDAG Engineering + Design AG, headquartered in Fulda, Germany, to complete the first phase, engineering study, with development work to be based at EDAG's Auburn Hills, Mich., facility. Phase I will examine changes affected by new powertrain systems that may radically alter the structure of automobiles and will provide input for selection of Phase II design concepts. Phase I results are expected in 2008.
Prior to the Future Steel Vehicle, four previous auto-steel research projects, representing more than $60 million in industry investment by the world's sheet steel producers, were undertaken over the last decade with strong support from the international steel and automotive communities. Projects demonstrated the application of new steel grades, design techniques and manufacturing technologies for light vehicle structures.
Previous projects—including the UltraLight Steel Auto Body (ULSAB), UltraLight Steel Auto Closures (ULSAC), and UltraLight Steel Auto Suspensions (ULSAS)—each successfully demonstrated the potential use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) in high-volume steel applications for significant vehicle weight reduction and improved safety and performance with no loss of manufacturing affordability.
A fourth project, ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts (ULSAB-AVC), produced full vehicle concepts for a C-class and a mid-size vehicle. Achievements included significantly improved energy efficiency through lightweight AHSS applications.
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AISI’s Automotive
Applications Committee AK Steel
ArcelorMittal USA
ArcelorMittal Dofasco
Nucor
Severstal North America
United States Steel
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“These previous research projects revolutionized the kinds of steels normally applied to auto bodies and demonstrated innovative steel vehicle designs,” said Edward Opbroek, WorldAutoSteel Director. “The application of these research findings is seen globally in many vehicles on the road today. We expect the Future Steel Vehicle project to stimulate the same development in upcoming new vehicle architecture.”
According to Ron Krupitzer, Vice President of AISI's AAC, “Future Steel Vehicle comes at a critical time in the United States because our government is working on legislation for reduced auto tailpipe emissions. One of the challenges concerning automotive emissions regulation is to achieve the intended control without creating unintended consequences.
“We certainly agree that improving fuel economy and reducing emissions during the use phase of a vehicle is very important,” said Krupitzer. “However, the use phase represents only part of the total emissions associated with a vehicle throughout its life. A more comprehensive evaluation can be achieved if all phases of a vehicle's life are considered—from materials production through the end-of-life vehicle disposal. This is life cycle analysis or life cycle assessment. LCA is often not sufficiently emphasized when examining GHG emissions.”
A recent study conducted by Dr. Roland Geyer at the University of California Santa Barbara confirmed that while vehicles with aluminum structures may have lower use phase emissions, there is no scientific evidence that their life cycle emissions are any better than vehicles with AHSS structures. Depending on the material chosen, increased GHG emissions during the production and end-of-life phases of a vehicle may offset reductions gained during a vehicle's use phase.
Regulations that consider only the vehicle use phase can encourage use of low-density, GHG-intensive materials that provide somewhat lighter weight components. However, this may have the unintended result of increasing GHG emissions during the vehicle's total life cycle.
ISO standards require life cycle assessment, which accounts for the combined GHG emissions from all phases of a product's life. With life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, alternative materials such as aluminum, magnesium and plastics are viewed less favorably, as their production requires more energy and their total GHG emissions contribution per kilogram is five to 20 times more than steel.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. Comprising 31 member companies, AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. Members include both integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, plus 130 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
The Automotive Applications Committee (AAC), a subcommittee of AISI’s Market Development Committee, is focused on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. With offices and staff located in Detroit, cooperation between the automobile and steel industries has been key to its success. This industry cooperation resulted in the formation of the Auto/Steel Partnership, a consortium of Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors and the member companies of the AAC.
