COMPANY NEWS

 2017-06-27

Today, it’s a popular trend to produce more light energy-efficient cars with aluminum profile instead of steel profile. In recent years, aluminum consumption in China's auto is significantly increased.

According to the related study, it shows that manufacturing vehicles with aluminum replacing steel can reduce the car weight of 30% to 40%: the aluminum-manufacturing engine can be reduced 30% weight; the aluminum-manufacturing wheels can be reduced 30% weight. In addition, the aluminum radiator is lighter 20% to 40% than the same copper products, and the aluminum car body is lighter more than 40% than the steel body light. In the vehicle running cycle, while its own weight reduces per 1000kg, you can reduce 4800L fuel consumption, and reduce 11.2 tons greenhouse gas emissions.

At present, the amount of aluminum profile used in the car, after the steel and cast iron, ranks the third, while the amount in the aluminum car is in the second place. The wheel is one of the living examples of aluminum using. In the last century 80's, most cars have already started to use aluminum alloy wheels, compared with ordinary steel wheels, which have strong shock-absorbing, good elasticity, strong corrosion resistance and durable, which can make the car's comfort and safety improved. In addition, the use of aluminum alloy wheels has significant environmental effect: for each 1kg reduction in the wheel quality, 1L gasoline can travel 800m more, and for each 1L gasoline saving, it can reduce 2.5kg carbon emissions.

It can be said that car weight reducing is an "eternal" topic, and aluminum is accompanied by the automobile industry. This history can be traced back to 1898 the advent of the old car De Dion Bouton which created a precedent for using aluminum in automotive. Since then, whether in rear axle, or cylinder block, there have been aluminum figure. However, the real opener of the era of aluminum cars was undoubtedly the Audi Company. From the beginning of the Audi Company in 1980, Audi80 and Audi100 both use the aluminum doors began, and it never stopped the pace of aluminum application. In 1994, Audi launched the world's first aluminum car, AudiA8, listed in Germany only 3 months, was sold 2000, from which the all-aluminum car -- AudiA8 began mass production. The so-called all-aluminum car refers to all the part can be made of aluminum machining parts has been aluminum in the current technical conditions. To AudiA8, for example, the body is made of aluminum profile, aluminum plate and aluminum extrusion profile so that their own quality is lighter 40% than the steel body; made of aluminum alloy extrusion profile, the space frame (ASF) like the human body supports the aluminum plate and the other parts.

In fact, in addition to Audi, the Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford, Land Rover and other international brands have become the pioneer of aluminum automotive, and aluminum profile in the automotive industry has maintained steady growth momentum. According to statistics, in the 1960s, the average amount of aluminum used in each vehicle was only 27.2 kg. By the mid-1990s, this data rose to 113 kg, accounting for about 8% of the vehicle's own quality, especially in Europe, the United States and other developed industries Countries. The Aluminum application in the automotive industry has continued to increase, and achieved good economic and social benefits.

China's auto aluminum market has entered a stage of rapid growth, some joint ventures with local auto brands made active attempts. From Xi'an Xiwo’s Volvo BIOM all-aluminum tourist bus, Zhengzhou Yutong's all-aluminum bus, to Shanghai Volkswagen's aluminum electric cars, and then to BYD's all-aluminum-body electric bus, due to large quantities of aluminum profile using, the weight loss of these vehicles is effect obviously, for example, the BYD’s all-aluminum-body electric bus compared to the previous steel body has reduced 1.2 tons.

Although the cost of aluminum is significantly higher than the steel, and the processing technology is more complex, it always can not stop the developing trend of aluminum replacing the steel. At present, the aluminum form for automobile is mainly castings, forgings, profiles and sheet metal, among which castings account for the most significantly, but from the application parts, the car body is the most potential market segments. According to statistics, the car body accounts about 30% of the total car quality, and in the no-load case, about 70% of the fuel consumption depends on the body quality, so the lighter body are of great benefit for the vehicle's economic fuel, control stability and collision safety, Which will undoubtedly to a certain extent stimulate the Chinese aluminum profile manufactures to R & D the automotive profiles and sheet.