Research into the manufacture of lightweight automobiles is driven by the need to reduce fuel consumption to preserve dwindling hydrocarbon resources without compromising other attributes such as safety, performance, recyclability and cost. Materials, design and manufacturing for lightweight vehicles will make it easier for engineers to not only learn about the materials being considered for lightweight automobiles, but also to compare their characteristics and properties.Part one discusses materials for lightweight automotive structures with chapters on advanced steels for lightweight automotive structures, aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys for lightweight powertrains and automotive structures, thermoplastics and thermoplastic matrix composites and thermoset matrix composites for lightweight automotive structures. Part two reviews manufacturing and design of lightweight automotive structures covering topics such as manufacturing processes for light alloys, joining for lightweight vehicles, recycling and lifecycle issues and crashworthiness design for lightweight vehicles.With its distinguished editor and renowned team of contributors, Materials, design and manufacturing for lightweight vehicles is a standard reference for practicing engineers involved in the design and material selection for motor vehicle bodies and components as well as material scientists, environmental scientists, policy makers, car companies and automotive component manufacturers. - Provides a comprehensive analysis of the materials being used for the manufacture of lightweight vehicles whilst comparing characteristics and properties - Examines crashworthiness design issues for lightweight vehicles and further emphasises the development of lightweight vehicles without compromising safety considerations and performance - Explores the manufacturing process for light alloys including metal forming processes for automotive applications

Lightweight Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Design covers the particular automotive design approach required for hybrid/electrical drive vehicles. There is currently huge investment world-wide in electric vehicle propulsion, driven by concern for pollution control and depleting oil resources. The radically different design demands of these new vehicles requires a completely new approach that is covered comprehensively in this book. The book explores the rather dramatic departures in structural configuration necessary for purpose-designed electric vehicle including weight removal in the mechanical systems. It also provides a comprehensive review of the design process in the electric hybrid drive and energy storage systems. Ideal for automotive engineering students and professionals Lightweight Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Design provides a complete introduction to this important new sector of the industry. - Comprehensive coverage of all design aspects of electric/hybrid cars in a single volume - Packed with case studies and applications - In-depth treatment written in a text book style (rather than a theoretical specialist text style)

Lightweighting is a concept well known to structural designers and engineers in all applications areas, from laptops to bicycles to automobiles to buildings and airplanes. Reducing the weight of structures can provide many advantages, including increased energy efficiency, better design, improved usability, and better coupling with new, multifunctional features. While lightweighting is a challenge in commercial structures, the special demands of military vehicles for survivability, maneuverability and transportability significantly stress the already complex process. Application of Lightweighting Technology to Military Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft assesses the current state of lightweighting implementation in land, sea, and air vehicles and recommends ways to improve the use of lightweight materials and solutions. This book considers both lightweight materials and lightweight design; the availability of lightweight materials from domestic manufacturers; and the performance of lightweight materials and their manufacturing technologies. It also considers the "trade space"-that is, the effect that use of lightweight materials or technologies can have on the performance and function of all vehicle systems and components. This book also discusses manufacturing capabilities and affordable manufacturing technology to facilitate lightweighting. Application of Lightweighting Technology to Military Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft will be of interest to the military, manufacturers and designers of military equipment, and decision makers.

Automotive manufacturers are required to decrease CO2 emissions and increase fuel economy while assuring driver comfort and safety. In recent years, there has been rapid development in the application of lightweight and sustainable materials in the automotive industry to help meet these criteria. This book provides critical reviews and the latest research results of various lightweight and sustainable materials in automotive applications. It discusses current applications and future trends of lightweight materials in the automotive area. While there are a few books published mainly focusing on automotive applications of metallic lightweight materials, to date there is no available book focusing on a broad spectrum of lightweight materials, including metal, plastic, composites, bio-fiber, bio-polymer, carbon fiber, glass fiber, nanomaterials, rubber materials, and foaming materials, as this work does. The book also includes case studies of commercial lightweight automotive parts from sustainable lightweight materials, providing an invaluable resource to those involved in this in-demand research and commercialization area.

The existential threat of global warming has triggered the need to reduce the energy consumption of vehicles. This can be achieved by reducing the weight of vehicles; a process known as lightweighting. The book reviews recent progress in this multifaceted discipline and discusses possible future developments. It references 214 original resources with their direct web links for in-depth reading. Keywords: Aluminum, Iron, Ductile Iron Castings, Magnesium Alloys, Nano-Composites, Steel, Titanium, Joining Dissimilar Materials, Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Body Torsioning, Castability, Drawability, Elasto-Viscoplastic Model, Electroplasticity, Embrittlement, Eutrophication, Extrudability, Front Crash Structure, Hall-Heroult Electrolysis, Hall-Petch Effect, Hot Extrusion, Hydroforming, Liftgate-Assembly, Lomer–Cottrell Lock, Machinability, Metamodel, Microballoon, Monocoque, Nano-Scale Spinodal, Nugget Debonding, Peening, Portevin–LeChatelier, Powerplant, Powertrain, Recrystallization Texture, Recyclability, Rheocasting, Rivetability, Self-Piercing Riveting, Solutionizing, Stiffness, Strain Hardening, Superplastic Forming, Taylor Polycrystal, Thixomolding, Weldability, Zener Effect, Zener Pinning.

The automotive industry is under constant pressure to design vehicles capable of meeting increasingly demanding challenges such as improved fuel economy, enhanced safety and effective emission control. Drawing on the knowledge of leading experts, Advanced materials in automotive engineering explores the development, potential and impact of using such materials.Beginning with a comprehensive introduction to advanced materials for vehicle lightweighting and automotive applications, Advanced materials in automotive engineering goes on to consider nanostructured steel for automotive body structures, aluminium sheet and high pressure die-cast aluminium alloys for automotive applications, magnesium alloys for lightweight powertrains and automotive bodies, and polymer and composite moulding technologies. The final chapters then consider a range of design and manufacturing issues that need to be addressed when working with advanced materials, including the design of advanced automotive body structures and closures, technologies for reducing noise, vibration and harshness, joining systems, and the recycling of automotive materials.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Advanced materials in automotive engineering is an invaluable guide for all those involved in the engineering, design or analysis of motor vehicle bodies and components, as well as all students of automotive design and engineering. - Explores the development, potential and impact of using advanced materials for improved fuel economy, enhanced safety and effective mission control in the automotive industry - Provides a comprehensive introduction to advanced materials for vehicle lightweighting and automotive applications - Covers a range of design ideas and manufacturing issues that arise when working with advanced materials, including technologies for reducing noise, vibration and harshness, and the recycling of automotive materials

This monograph adresses the challenge of the environmental assessment of leightweight electric vehicles. It poses the question whether the use of lightweight materials in electric vehicles can reduce the vehicles’ environmental impact and compares the environmental performance of a lightweight electric vehicle (LEV) to other types of vehicles. The topical approach focuses on methods from life cycle assessment (LCA), and the book concludes with a comprehensive concept on the environmental assessment of LEVs. The target audience primarily comprises LCA practitioners from research institutes and industry, but it may also be beneficial for graduate students specializing in the field of environmental assessment.