AISI Participates in Future Steel Vehicle Research Initiative

AISI's Automotive Applications Committee (AAC) is participating in a global steel industry research initiative by the International Iron and Steel Insitute's automotive group, WorldAutoSteel, to mitigate automotive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project, Future Steel Vehicle, will develop steel auto body concepts that address alternative powertrains, such as advanced hybrid, electric and fuel cell systems. The goal of this research is to demonstrate safe, structurally efficient steel bodies for future vehicles that reduce GHG emissions over the entire vehicle life.

A multi-million dollar, multi-year program, Future Steel Vehicle will consist of three phases: Phase I, Engineering Study; Phase II, Concept Designs; and Phase III, Demonstration Hardware.

WorldAutoSteel commissioned the world's largest independent automotive engineering partner, EDAG Engineering + Design AG, to complete the engineering study. Phase I will examine changes affected by new powertrain systems that may radically alter the structure of automobiles and will provide input for selection of Phase II design concepts. Phase I results are expected in 2008.

Future Steel Vehicle is the fifth in a series of auto steel research projects. The previous four, representing more than $60 million in industry investment by the world's sheet steel producers, were undertaken over the last decade to demonstrate the application of new steel grades, design techniques and manufacturing technologies for light vehicle structures. They included the UltraLight Steel Auto Body (ULSAB), UltraLight Steel Auto Closures (ULSAC) and UltraLight Steel Auto Suspensions (ULSAS) projects. Each demonstrated the successful use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) in high-volume steel applications that significantly reduced vehicle weight, while improving safety and performance and maintaining manufacturing affordability.

A fourth project, ULSAB-Advanced Vehicle Concepts (ULSAB-AVC), produced full vehicle concepts for a C-class and a mid-size vehicle. Achievements included significantly improved energy efficiency through lightweight AHSS applications. For more information, contact Deanna Lorincz at lorinczd@autosteel.org.