Material decisions based on economics and energy

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · SAE Prepr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5949656

Cochran, C N; McClure, R H.G.

Offers a lifetime comparison of fuel and materials costs of a vehicle which incorporates ''intensive'' use of several lightweight materials. Suggests that determination of the maximum weight savings and resulting fuel consumption savings of vehicles making intensive use of high strength steel, plastics, and aluminium can provide design guidelines. Results show that aluminium-intensive versions were found to have small positive effects on ultimate scrap values vs slight negatives for the others. Finds that fuel consumption benefits, as well as first owner and lifetime dollar savings, also improve with intensive use of high strength steels, plastics, and aluminium relative to a 1980 GM ''X-car,'' in that order. Concludes that to be free of OPEC at the 1980 US rates of oil importation, production, and consumption, the entire US fleet of 150 million automobiles and light trucks would have to be converted to the aluminium-intensive vehicle of this study with all of the suggested mechanical and drag improvements.

• Research Organization: Aluminum Co. of America
• OSTI ID: 5949656
• Journal Information: SAE Prepr.; (United States), Vol. 90:7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
VEHICLES
FUEL CONSUMPTION
MATERIALS
WEIGHT
ALUMINIUM
COST
DESIGN
ECONOMICS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
PLASTICS
STEELS
ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
METALS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
320203* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Transportation- Land & Roadway