Posted on 06/09/2014 1:10:56 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Roofs made of carbon fiber. Plastic windshields. Bumpers fashioned out of aluminum foam.
What sounds like a science experiment could be your next car.
While hybrids and electrics may grab the headlines, the real frontier in fuel economy is the switch to lighter materials.
Automakers have been experimenting for decades with lightweighting, as the practice is known, but the effort is gaining urgency with the adoption of tougher gas mileage standards. To meet the government's goal of nearly doubling average fuel economy to 45 mpg by 2025, cars need to lose some serious pounds.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
With car materials there is light, strong, and cheap. You get to pick two.
Plastic windshields? Cheap crap at high prices.
Ford gave a glimpse of the future last week with a lightweight Fusion car. The prototype, developed with the U.S. Department of Energy
“Swerved to avoid a baby duck...”
I had a ‘90 Mits Eclipse turbo AWD that got 32-35 mpg and was not a cracker box “smart” car by any means.
It can be done if they want to.
Yup. And where all the money surrounding it will end up too.
1. It's still very expensive to fabricate.
2. The manufacturing process is not very environmentally friendly.
There is an alternative--composites made by hemp fiber--that is now getting more and more serious attention. It's almost as strong as carbon fiber, but the manufacturing cost is way lower and is not as bad to the environment when the composite made from hemp fiber is manufactured. We could see at least some body panels made from hemp fiber possibly within the next ten years, which will allow substantial weight savings--possibly as much as 400 pounds off a car now weighing around 2,900 pounds when made with high-strength steel.
My vehicle weighs 2800 lbs and does 53+ to the Gallon.
0 to 60, 9 seconds. 60 to 120 ,9seconds.
Top speed 125mph.
It is made of steel....there is no need for exotic materials.
I drive a 2006 S Type Jaguar. About 3 yrs ago was driving back to California from Arkansas. Around Santa Rosa New Mexico hit a major wind/rain storm. Decided to stop at a motel for the night when a semi almost blew me off the road. It was the combination of wind rain and him going past me at about 15 miles an hour faster than I was driving. Scared the crap out of me. I’ll try to never drive a smaller more lightweight car.
There is when the government gets involved.
Ford gave a glimpse of the future last week with a lightweight Fusion car. The prototype, developed with the U.S. Department of Energy
Why would anyone want a lighter car when semis blow them all over the highway now?
“Sounds like coffins on 4 wheels.”
A Pinto
Golf TDI? I’d love to have one...
Acing the crash tests? A 5 to 10mph crash will cause hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage, versus older cars that barely get a scratch. They might pass the crash test but you have a squished compressed front end.
Long ago when young, was riding with my friend in his 1959 Olds coupe when he spun out taking a right turn too fast (he was a maniac driver). The car slid sideways and slammed into a telephone pole. He cranked the steering wheel and backed away from the pole. We were amazed to see no damage to the door other than scraped paint. Built like a tank, that '59 Olds. Try that in a modern lightweight car and it's totaled.
Maybe next Obama can repeal entropy(?)
CHEVY_VEGA_REDEUX_PING!
I think they also want to make cars less affordable.
That’s why I still drive my 98 GMC Pick-up....
Only have to watch out for 18 wheelers and buses....
Vega
Chevet
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