The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), will launch FutureSteelVehicle (FSV) at the 10th Annual Great Designs in Steel (GDIS) seminar Wednesday, 18 May in Livonia, Mich.
FSV is a global, multi-million dollar program that delivers auto body concepts addressing different steel structures for advanced powertrains, including advanced hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. The program introduces new advanced steel grades and manufacturing technologies to the industry’s advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) portfolio.
Over the past decade, automakers’use of AHSS has outpaced the growth rate of competing materials, making it the fastest growing automotive lightweighting material, according to Ducker Worldwide, as cited by SMDI.
Despite the rapid growth, we are just scratching the surface on steel lightweighting. Weight reduction will be important to these newly designed powertrains. Car manufacturers will use structural mass reduction to reduce battery and motor sizes. Therefore, the choice of material will become critical. The steel industry has met the challenge of affordable weight reduction, safety and environmental responsibility for the last 10 years. Implementing FSV project results will continue this commitment over the next 10 to 15 years.
—Ronald Krupitzer, vice president, automotive market for SMDI