Transport is going to be one of the key considerations of the future. Currently, our transport solutions are adequate, but they are far from perfect. However, many of the downsides of contemporary transport can be solved by examining the materials involved. Changing one material for another can have a significant impact on the end product. And, with this process in mind, aluminium is of major interest. Aluminium in lightweight transport has the potential to be a huge game changer and it’s important to understand why.
The Potential of Aluminium in Lightweight Transport
Designing lightweight transport is a complex undertaking and you only have to take a look at current vehicles on the road to appreciate how difficult this is. But aluminium is blessed with a wide range of benefits which makes it perfect for the job. And these are the reasons why we need aluminium in lightweight transport:
• Weight: Aluminium is crucial when it comes to reducing the weight of a vehicle. In fact, if you were to replace 182kg of steel components with aluminium versions then you would instantly save 100kg on the vehicle weight. And weight savings such as this are critical for making electric vehicles a mainstream reality. Electric propulsion will be significantly easier to achieve and, with aluminium being much lighter, the manoeuvrability of these vehicles will be equally easier.
• Dent Resistant: The need for vehicle body repairs are an accepted fact in the world of transport, but aluminium can help minimise this damage. As aluminium is a much lighter material it can be manufactured much thicker than steel. This allows body panels to be more protected from impacts. This not only protects damage to the exterior of the vehicle, but also offers more protection to the occupants.
• Visual Aesthetics: A major benefit of using aluminium in lightweight transport is that it delivers fantastic visuals in terms of design. Thanks to its high heat and light reflectivity, aluminium is the perfect metal for decorating with coatings that are both vivid and maintain a high lustre. Best of all, however, are the high levels of corrosion resistance associated with aluminium. This property allows manufacturers the opportunity to forego protective coatings and minimise costs whilst also protecting against rust.
• Environmental Friendly: Aluminium is considerably lighter than steel and this generates a number of benefits for the environment. Take, for example, a car bonnet: made from steel this could weigh 20kg, but an aluminium one will likely weigh around 10kg. And, by making a car lighter, you are reducing the CO2 emissions involved in building that car. Taking this a step further, a lighter car becomes more economical when it comes to fuel. Again, this minimises emissions and makes aluminium an ideal solution.
Final Thoughts
The need for aluminium in lightweight transport should be clear to see for everyone. Capable of delivering eye-catching, yet safe designs, aluminium is light enough to be both environmentally friendly and capable of supporting electric propulsion. Packed full of benefits, which materials such as steel can only dream of, aluminium, represents the future of vehicle design.
We are suppliers of aluminium profiles to the Road Transport sector. If you would like to know more about how aluminium extrusions can benefit your transport design project call the Custom Profiles sales team on 01275 87995 or email sales@custom-profiles.com