Steel’s Role in the ‘Greening’ of the Auto Industry
04/27/2010 - The Steel Market Development Institute used the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, on April 22, to remind automakers of the benefits of using advanced high-strength steels, which require less energy and emissions to produce, make lighter parts, and are fully recyclable.
The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) used the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, on April 22, to remind automakers and others of the benefits of using environmentally friendly materials—i.e., advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), which require less energy and emissions to produce than other automotive structural material, make lighter parts that help increase fuel economy, and are fully recyclable.
These new steels benefit the vehicle in three areas of a vehicle’s life: manufacturing, driving, and end-of-life recycling. SMDI notes that this largely accounts for why they are the fastest-growing material in new vehicles today.
“In addition to steel’s environmental benefits, the use of AHSS reduces a vehicle’s structural weight by as much as 25% and can cut total life cycle CO2 emissions by up to 15% more than any other automotive material,” said Lawrence W. Kavanagh, President of SMDI. “And because it is fully recyclable, steel used in today’s cars can help automakers reduce the carbon footprint of tomorrow’s vehicles, as well.”
SMDI cites a recent study released by the Steel Recycling Institute stating that automobiles are recycled more than any other product, with nearly 100% of vehicles recycled today for their iron and steel content, which comprises 67% of each vehicle. In 2008, this resulted in more than 14.8 million tons of steel recovered for reuse from scrapped automobiles.
North American automotive and steel industry experts will discuss the environmental advantages of steel at the Ninth Annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar taking place May 5 in Livonia, Mich. Presentation highlights include: a design presentation of the Future Steel Vehicle program; a LCA (life cycle assessment) roundtable; an overview of the EPA’s light-duty greenhouse gas rule and the role of vehicle mass reduction; sessions on lightweighting automobile bodies and powertrain components; and discussions on the use of AHSS to increase vehicle safety, strength, and durability.
The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), grows and maintains the use of steel through strategies that promote cost-effective solutions in the automotive, construction, and container markets, as well as for new-growth opportunities in nontraditional steel markets. The Automotive Applications Council is a part of SMDI and focuses on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. Automotive Applications Council investors are: AK Steel Corp., ArcelorMittal Dofasco, ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corp., Severstal North America, United States Steel Corp.
