All Lightweighting articles
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ArticleAluminium applications
Electric vehicles battery enclosures are increasing overall vehicle weight, with lightweight materials for structural components, such as castings, can offset the rise. Rio Tinto’s Jerome Fourmann tells Nick Holt about new opportunities and production innovations
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Lightweighting of the future: Lotus reveals blueprints underpinning new EV sports range
Lotus Cars has unveiled its full range of EV performance cars demonstrating innovations in lightweight chassis technology for the production of its electric sports vehicles. According to the company, they will be essential in both performances of electric vehicles, as well as in maintaining efficiency in manufacturing.
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Article
Stress test: new modelling approach for component fatigue testing
The development of lightweight structures and components for electric vehicles has created a demand for more comprehensive and modern test-and-measurement processes to evaluate component fatigue and service life. Lucia Barbu, research professor and project coordinator at Fatigue4light gives insight into the challenges and solutions
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Porsche production: moving faster around the bend
Porsche’s manufacturing chief, Albrecht Reimold, explains the carmaker’s progress towards sustainable, connected manufacturing as it gears up to build more electric vehicles.
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BMW expands plant in Mexico to build 2 Series Coupé
The 2 Series Coupé will be produced exclusively in Mexico for the global market. The plant has seen further investments of $125 million over the last 2 years, which has expanded its operations significantly.
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Cost and opportunity: experts unveil the contradictions at the core of lightweighting EVs
Lightweighting has become one of the most important features when it comes to designing EVs. As calls for more sustainable production practices become louder, creators are looking at new innovative ways to lighten the load.
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Thinking outside the box: lightweight battery enclosures
The lightweighting of electric vehicle (EV) structures is a key element in helping to extend the endurance ranges necessary to accelerate their increasing adoption. A specific target for weight reduction is the compartment used to house the batteries
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Lightweighting the EV is a challenge to celebrate
There is a new impetus to save weight as vehicles become powered by electric powertrains. Reducing the weight of a vehicle by optimising the mix of materials and the application in design is now a key focus.
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Watch: Vehicle lightweighting rises to the top of the agenda for designers and engineers
This livestream investigates how designers and engineers at Ford, Gestamp and key suppliers are using innovative materials and creating lightweight architectures, including for models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Maverick compact truck.
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Watch: Factory of the future Livestream – The software-defined assembly line
As automotive OEMs digitalise and connect factories, hear how the Audi Production Lab, ABB and Cosmotech are using real-time data, smart software and advanced automation to reshape vehicle production processes.
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80% aluminium throughput: Chemetall’s competence in car body pre-treatment
The ongoing drive to reduce vehicle weight is seeing an increasing percentage of aluminium being used in car bodies. In the context of this lightweighting challenge, an ambitious joint effort by Chemetall and Porsche has achieved a targeted share of 80% aluminium throughput in a phosphating pre-treatment plant
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Article
White Paper: Electric & Lightweight - The future for electric vehicle battery assembly solutions
Spearheading innovation in electromobility, Atlas Copco’s new whitepaper “Electric & Lightweight - The future for electric vehicle battery assembly solutions”, showcases its advances in safe and secure joining technology with 100% repeatable accuracy, traceability and error-proofing.
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Power is nothing without control
Chassis components keep the wheels from falling off the EV revolution. Illya Verpraet found out how Gestamp is managing the change with material and quality control innovation
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NVH reduction for electric vehicle interiors
Brian Pour, president and CEO of Auria Solutions, identifies the increasing importance of electric vehicles as a major factor influencing the development of vehicle interiors and one that will pick up even more pace given recent political change. Mike Farish reports
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New lightweight EV architecture for McLaren
The supercar manufacturer has introduced an all-new, flexible, lightweight vehicle architecture which will underpin its next generation of electrified supercars
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Voice
Smart steel solutions for BEV body-in-white
As the automotive manufacturing industry adapts during fast-changing times, steel has a major role to play
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Nissan material specialists explore lightweight NVH technology
Continuing its meta-material projects, the OEM has developed an acoustic barrier innovation that is 75% lighter than conventional sound insulation materials
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Steelmakers keen to press home the BEV advantage
Throughout the age of the mass-produced automobile, steel has been the principal material of choice for vehicle structures. Will it maintain its dominance as carmakers pursue new mobility concepts?
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Voice
Worth its metal
Aluminium welding requires special care but an understanding of the process helps suppliers to make good choices, writes Lincoln Electric’s Raheel Khan
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Voice
Weight out, strength in
A strategic alliance between Henkel and RLE International is exploring the lightweighting innovations available when combining expertise in structural foam technology and engineering design. David Caro and Tobias Wigand describe the findings
