Not only is General Motors planning to introduce carbon fiber composite wheels for vehicles in the near future, it also has a few other tricks to employ in the name of weight saving. During a presentation today, GM described yet another technique it is looking to possibly employ for greater weight savings.
Magnesium could become the next big thing in weight savings regarding inner door panel construction, with incredible benefits over current inner door panel construction. GM stated just over 10-pounds per inner door panel can be shaved off by incorporating magnesium construction. In other words, magnesium inner door panels are 30-percent lighter than aluminum and 50-percent lighter than traditional steel.
It makes packaging simpler, too. Magnesium has the ability to consolidate seven seperate components down to just one piece, all while increasing stiffness locally without added mass. Win-win.
Ten pounds here and there may not seem like much, but combining weight savings from separate techniques can make a huge difference. That said, GM did not confirm magnesium inner door panels for production any time soon, however, it is evaluating the usage for future products to come.
Comments
Like I have said it is not all going to be aluminum.
They will this as well as plastic’s, molded carbon fiber, micro metals, aluminum and other materials to great effect for collective weight reduction.
Aluminum is a part of the plan but it can not do everything as well as some of these new technologies.
GM should also consider ceramics for gas engine parts. The Space Shuttle uses ceramic tiles as its underbody heat shield, but each “tile” weighs a few ounces. So GM can take advantage of NASA developments (it is all in the public domain, BTW) and really use “Space Technology” in future models.
What is cost-benefit ratio though?
All these exotic metals costs money and that ends up in the sale price of the vehicle.
Many are not that much more expensive anymore and still most are cheaper than Aluminum. Mag is relativity cheap and already is used in dash supports etc.
Carbon fiber is expensive only due to the labor and time cost. Carbon is cheap but it takes a lot of hand labor to make the parts. GM has invested in a company that is working to make molded carbon fiber parts and they say it is going to reduce cost. Mirrors and small items will be the first to appear.
Micro metals are said to be as light as Aluminum but as strong as Boron Steel. It is expected in GM cars in the next 5 years.
Study the CT6 and learn how they cut weight and understand that was only the start.
less weight is the new HP race.