Global Steel Industry Developing Vehicle Concept Around Next Generation Electrics, Hybrids
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Lighter, stronger, greener steel bodies to help automakers increase efficiency at lower cost
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Aug. 31 -- Summary:
-- Phase 1 technology and component evaluations complete; four technical
specification options were considered: Future Steel Vehicle-1 (FSV)
(battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle); and
FSV-2 (plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle)
-- Phase 2 vehicle concepts, to be completed in 2010, will provide
optimized steel designs that meet or exceed future environmental, fuel
economy, safety and weight standards
As worldwide demands for affordable, safe and high-efficiency vehicles surge, the global steel industry's WorldAutoSteel automotive group, supported by AISI's Steel Market Development Institute, is launching Phase 2 of its FSV aimed at helping automakers optimize new propulsion technologies that will soon enter show rooms.
The FSV program recently completed Phase 1 of its research and today released its findings and plans for Phase 2.
For Phase 1, FSV's technical team, which includes EDAG, Quantum Technologies, SFCV/Tongji and WorldAutoSteel material experts, considered four technical specification options for proposed 2015 to 2020 model year vehicles: battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEV) for four or more passengers; and PHEV and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) for five passengers.
Each of these options was evaluated by the engineering team and powertrains were selected based on performance, viability for production in 2020 and cost. Two vehicle classes were identified, as well:
-- FSV-1 is a four-door hatchback with BEV and PHEV20 powertrain
variants; and
-- FSV-2 is a four-door sedan and is designed to accept two powertrain
options: a PHEV40 and a fuel cell electric vehicle.
In Phase 2, the purpose will be to develop detailed design concepts and fully optimize a radically different body structure for the FSV-1 BEV. It will also identify structure changes to accommodate the other three vehicles and powertrain variants.
In addition to meeting or exceeding future safety and performance requirements, extremely aggressive weight-reduction targets have been set for FSV Phase 2. The FSV team intends to meet these targets using engineering design optimization and advanced steel technologies. Achievement of such aggressive weight reduction with steel will set a new standard for vehicle design approaches for the future.
The FSV Phase 2 development will consider a total life cycle assessment of the concept designs to meet CO2 emissions targets. Regulations that consider only the vehicle use phase can encourage the use of low-density, greenhouse gas-intensive materials that provide lighter weight components. However, this may have the unexpected result of increasing GHG emissions during the vehicle's total life cycle.
In 2008, the FSV team released preliminary styling imagery for an early reveal on what the FSV vehicles might look like. Since then, the design process has taken the team through a number of iterations.
WorldAutoSteel and its global engineering partners will develop FSV Phase 2 (Concept Designs) through 2009 and 2010. This will be followed by a demonstration hardware phase. For additional information on the FSV program and to download the Phase 1 Executive Summary, visit www.autosteel.org.
About Automotive Applications Council
The Automotive Applications Council is a part of AISI's Steel Market Development Institute. The council focuses on advancing the use of steel in the highly competitive automotive market. For more news or information, visit www.autosteel.org.
Automotive Applications Council investors include: ArcelorMittal Dofasco ArcelorMittal USA Nucor Corporation Severstal North America Inc. United States Steel Corporation About WorldAutoSteel
WorldAutoSteel, the automotive group of the International Iron and Steel Institute continually explores steel innovation that demonstrates and communicates the value of steel in automobiles to industry and society. Its worldwide member companies pool global resources within and beyond the steel industry to deliver vital research that is central to effective steel automobile applications. WorldAutoSteel continues to lead the materials revolution through projects like the Future Steel Vehicle and the UltraLight Steel Family of Research: ULSAB, ULSAC, ULSAS, and ULSAB-AVC, which help the world's automotive industry to improve the safety, affordability and environmental impact of its products. To learn more about these and other WorldAutoSteel projects, visit www.worldautosteel.org
WorldAutoSteel members include: Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corporation - China Arcelor Mittal - Luxembourg Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd. - China Corus-Tata - The Netherlands & India Hyundai-Steel Company - Korea JFE Holdings, Inc. - Japan Kobe Steel, Ltd. - Japan Nippon Steel Corporation - Japan Nucor Corporation - USA POSCO - South Korea Severstal - Russian Federation & USA Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. - Japan ThyssenKrupp Steel AG - Germany United States Steel Corporation - USA Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. - Brazil voestalpine Stahl GmbH - Austria