Ultralight Vehicles Jenna Owen University of Texas at Austin Chemical Engineering ElectroPhen, 2008

Overview Introduction Ultralight Strategy Materials Advanced Composites Hypercar Conclusion

Current model and disadvantages Steel model has been seen for almost a century. Cars are very heavy due to the weight of the steel. Current vehicles are not energy efficient. – 85% of energy input is lost – 1% of energy is used to move the passengers

Ultralight Strategy Mass decompounding is the key to an efficient vehicle design. Saving 1 lb of weight leads to saving 5 lbs. Every 10% of weight reduction translates to a 7% increase in fuel economy.

Materials Light Steel (25-30% lighter) – Hydroform tubing used to create the autobody. – Laser welding allows thin steel to be welded to thicker steel. Aluminum (40% lighter) – New types of alloys and production techniques tested Advanced Composites (50-67% lighter)

Advanced Composites Composition – Polymers embedded into a “matrix of plastic” – Composed of carbon, aramid, or similar fibers – Composites durable, fatigue resistant, and reduce noise and vibrations. Design – Materials formed into one unit or shell – Aerodynamic drag reduced by 40-50% – Rolling resistance reduced by 50%

Advanced Composites Safety – Materials are 20 times as stiff, 4 times as tough, and can handle temperatures twice as high. – Composites can absorb 5 times more energy than an equivalent amount of steel. Cost – Advanced composites are expensive – 1-2 orders of magnitude fewer parts – Simple assembly and few tools required

Hypercar Incorporates ultralight technology along with a hybrid electric drive system Travels miles per gallon Sundance Channel, 2008

Conclusion Ultralight technology will increase the energy efficiency of future vehicles. Advanced composites create light, safe, durable, and superefficient vehicles.