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Action For a LOw Weight Vehicule Technology

The purpose of the network is to integrate efforts towards producing low weight automobiles. Previous efforts have primarily concentrated on investigating alternatives for reducing the weight of the automotive body structure. This network will link those past efforts with the current project activities looking at reducing the weight of bolt-on components, interior components and underbody components. There are a number of questions that need to be answered before light alloy component (raw materials and manufacturing), dynamic performance at reduced weight and thickness, consistency and durability. This network includes projects covering these aspects for aluminum and magnesium including manufacturing processes and corrosion performance.

The main strategic objectives for the network projects are:

– Significant weight savings
– Improved performance including durability
– Cost effective new materials and processes
– Reduced energy processing
– Environmental improvements
– Design parameters for low weight components

The primary role of the network is to establish suitable materials and their conditions, relevant manufacturing techniques for different applications, a techno-economic analysis of the possible combinations to establish a matrix of possibilities and a validated virtual concept for a low weight vehicle. The most cost effective and potentially most acceptable solutions for the automotive industry and it’s customers will be established. The ultimate aim of the matrix would be to develop a low weight scenario with precise targets in terms of reduced weight automotive components and then to link that to the beneficial effect that has on the environment.

This network has participants from seven EU countries including all of the major manufacturing countries from the automotive industry in Europe. The Network also links in specialists from non-manufacturing countries. The need to operate on a European level is attributed to the fact that there are significant risks associated with establishing these technologies at the right price for volume production. These risks make it uneconomic for individual companies to embark on this work alone. Additionally with the USA and Japan doing similar work in a co-ordinated way, it would be impossible for Europe to maintain its position without collaboration. National collaboration is also less relevant for this activity because of the need to have automotive manufacturers, materials suppliers, materials research specialists and manufacturing specialists together.
Additionally by carrying it out at European level it is possible to aggregate the expertise from a wide range of projects both past and present