By Melissa Zirps, Magrathea. Elon Musk was sitting in his office, eyeing a Hot Wheels toy car on his desk, when he asked, “Why can’t we make real cars the same way we make toy cars?” This question reflects the attempt by car manufacturers to test the limits of consolidation and lightweight construction in the […]
By Alicia Hartlieb and Martin Hartlieb, Viami International Inc. Numerous studies, especially from Ducker-Carlisle, have shown that aluminum usage in light vehicles has been growing for decades, having surpassed 500 lbs (227 kg) per light vehicle in North America and 396 lbs (180 kg) per vehicle in Europe. Until now, castings have been the predominant […]
By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. Electric vehicles (EVs) and electrification of transportation in general are topics that dominate news outlets, magazines, and social media. OEMs, materials manufacturers, and those looking to capitalize on this new electrified economy are constantly sharing a barrage of information and data on new business models, the projected performance of […]
By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. The automotive business is rife with change as OEMs introduce new powertrains for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs). Car companies are also spending billions in big bets on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), ride sharing, artificial intelligence (AI), and service businesses in an attempt to shift dollars from the […]
By Andrew Halonen, Mayflower Consulting LLC. Regardless of whether a vehicle features an electric or internal combustion engine (ICE), there are many factors that affect the fuel efficiency and range in its design. Efficiency losses can come in many forms, but are generally affected by factors such as aerodynamics, rolling resistance, friction losses, and weight. […]
Mayflower Consulting conducted a study on automotive suspension systems to determine the value of aluminum forgings in the application.
Tesla, Inc. submitted a patent application, titled “System and Method for Facilitating Pulsed Spray Quench of Extruded Objects.” The patent application describes a quenching process that aims to increase the strength, rigidity, and energy absorption of 6000 series extruded aluminum components. During the extrusion process, the microstructure of the aluminum can have a significant impact on […]
Volvo, the automaker known for making some of the safest cars in the world, has created a new safer electric vehicle by incorporating the battery within the aluminum structure of its upcoming Polestar 2. Enclosed in an aluminum case for protection and rigidity, the battery pack is fully housed within the floor structure of the […]
Tesla is developing its latest electric vehicle, the Model Y, a fully electric compact utility vehicle (CUV) that will have the longest range of any electric CUV or sports utility vehicle (SUV), lasting for 300 miles before needing to be recharged. Of this, 168 miles worth can be charged in 15 minutes at ‘supercharger’ locations around […]
