Initiatives to Reduce Car Body Weight by Using Ultra-high-strength Steel
Automotive World 2023: Toyota and JFE Steel presentations
2023/04/13
- Summary
- The Adoption of 1.5Gpa Cold Ultra-high-strength Steel in Vehicle (Toyota Motor Corporation)
- Current Status of Development of Ultra-high-strength Steel Sheets and Application Technology Contributing to Automobile Weight Reduction (JFE Steel Corporation)
- Double door ring (K.K. IRISU)
Summary
This report introduces part of the presentations given by Toyota Motor Corporation and JFE Steel Corporation representatives at the Automotive World Conference Program ALT-2 Lightweight Technology Innovation Forum 2, “Latest Examples and Current Development Status of Ultra-high Tensile Steel That Accelerates Lightweight" at the Automotive World 2023 Advanced Automotive Technology Show held in January 2023, as well as the exhibits of German machinery trading company K.K. IRISU.
In the presentation by Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), the benefits and various issues of weight reduction with ultra high-tensile steel, the future concept of high-tensile steel, and an example of application of cold-rolled 1470 grade material to the Lexus NX roof center reinforcement were shown. In his final summary, the presenter stated that weight reduction will continue to be important in the future, that there are plans to expand the use of cold-rolled ultra high-tensile steel globally, and that cooperation among steel sheet, stamping press, and vehicle manufacturers is important.
In the presentation by JFE Steel Corporation (JFE Steel), the presenter showed weight reduction through the application of high-strength sheet steel contributing to carbon neutrality, the tensile strength of steel sheets by part, and issues related to their applications. In the development of materials for high-strength steel sheets, various steel types suitable for forming have been developed, and the development status of forming technology to reduce cracking and springback during formation was shown. And finally, there was an introduction of related technology that applies to the body structure of BEVs (battery electric vehicles).
The booth of K.K. IRISU (C. Illies & Co., Ltd.) of Germany exhibited a prototype double door ring that combines laser blanking, laser welding, hot stamping, and other technologies. The one-piece framework for the side of the car body around the front and rear doors was a prototype made by laser blanking seven blanks, laser welding them together, and hot stamping them.
As mentioned above, the Japanese automaker and material supplier representatives gave presentations on weight reduction by applying cold-rolled ultra-high strength steel sheets to parts, while K.K. IRISU of Germany exhibited a prototype of hot stamping using hot-rolled steel for forming. It is interesting to note that Japanese manufacturers promote weight reduction mainly by applying cold-rolled ultra-high strength steel sheets, while European manufacturers promote weight reduction mainly by using hot-stamped materials, showing the difference in their approaches to car body weight reduction.
Related Reports:
13th Toyota Business Fair 2023: Carbon Neutrality (Mar. 2023)
JSAE 2022 in Yokohama: EV Components, Weight Reduction, Bioplastics (Jun. 2022)
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