Aluminum Top Hat Provides Automakers a Light, Sustainable Alternative
October 25, 2021Comments
Alumobility, a nonprofit organization comprised of aluminum producers and other companies looking to advance the adoption of aluminum automotive body sheet, has revealed the results of a new study demonstrating that an aluminum automotive top hat--the upper structure of a vehicle’s body-in-white--can save significant weight compared to steel while meeting or exceeding automakers’ performance criteria. The study reveals that an aluminum top hat achieves a 42-percent weight savings compared to the reference top hat of the current Audi e-tron electric SUV, which uses advanced and ultra-high-strength steels.
The study also confirms that an aluminum top hat would require fewer components and joints than its steel counterpart, helping to reduce the time and cost of vehicle assembly.
Technologies: Materials
