About This Special Issue
CO2 targets and requirements for improved air quality have pushed OEMs towards increased energy efficiency. Reducing energy demand through weight reduction is a logical means to lower CO2 in conventional I. C. Engine vehicles, offering secondary benefits since elements such engines and brakes can also be made smaller as vehicle mass reduces. Vehicle weight has been increasing for a number of years due to greater inclusion of vehicle safety, comfort and entertainment content. In the past decade, light weighting has been applied to compensate this, resulting in broadly stable weight in most vehicle classes. In the short term, electrification poses additional challenges for vehicle weight. The larger batteries and electrified propulsion components make these vehicles heavier than conventional I. C. Engine vehicles. However, in the long term, the introduction of connected and autonomous vehicles and geo-fenced zones will radically influence vehicle designs irrespective of powertrain Life cycle considerations pose challenges for new materials and manufacturing choices, often narrowing options Meeting the need for steep CO2 reductions will require further weight reductions, many of which cannot be achieved through incremental changes. Targets have been set to drive innovation in vehicle materials, design and manufacturing, in support of overall CO2 goals and emission reduction. A further challenge for weight reduction is that it should not be achieved at the detriment of unreasonable cost, safety or emissions reduction. Innovative vehicle and component design is crucial to engineering structurally efficient vehicles that also meet sustainability targets. There are wide ranges of different materials OEMs can use to reduce weight across the vehicle. The applicability of these materials varies by vehicle area and materials innovation (supported by design and manufacturing) can expand the options for many materials. In addition, Improvements in manufacturing processes are required to support new lightweight materials and designs. Considering all these challenges, this special issue has initiated wherein research papers will be directed towards sustainable lightweight solutions for transport sector through advances in design, materials and manufacturing.
Aims and Scope:
- Light weighting Through Ultra High Strength Steels
- Light weighting through 3D Printing and its application for Automotive Components
- Challenges in Manufacturing: Ti, Al & Mg Automotive Components
- Light weighting Through Joining Technology
- Light weighting of Automotive Electronics Components
- Advances in Hydroforming of Auto Components
- Low cost Titanium for Engine Components
- Light weighting through structural Polymers
- Opportunities in light weighting of Electric Vehicles
- Light weighting of electric vehicle’s battery unit
- Bio-fabric/ Bio-material, biopolymers and Foams for seats
- Development of mono-material processes for multi-materials for multi-point joining
- Application of Metal injection molding for Manufacturing Automotive Components
- Application of Additive layer manufacturing for Manufacturing Automotive Components
- Advances in Design technology and its application for light weighting of automotive components
- Advances in modelling tools: Multi-material load-bearing structures
- Advances in joining Dissimilar Automotive materials
- Joining of Automotive structures by clinching and self-Pierce Riveting
- Advances in forging technology for light weighting of Automotive Components