A DuPont-sponsored survey to track the impact of the 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (CAFE) has found that automakers are focused almost equally on improving battery performance, breakthroughs in combustion engine performance, and lighter materials.
Nearly 700 subscribers to WardsAuto responded to the 2012 survey. DuPont released the results during the recent Center for Automotive Research (CAR)'s Management Briefing Seminar.
The technology improvements respondents said would deliver the greatest impact on fuel economy and CO2 emissions were combustion engine breakthroughs at 28 percent; lighter materials at 23 percent; and battery density, performance, and safety at 20 percent. Materials were broken out into two categories with almost equal importance: lower cost, lightweight materials at 13 percent; and lighter, stronger structural materials at 10 percent. Respondents did not mention specific materials, such as lighter metals or carbon composites and plastics, said a company spokeswoman.
A DuPont-sponsored survey has found that automakers are focused almost equally on improving battery performance, breakthroughs in combustion engine performance, and lighter materials. (Source: DuPont)
Other technology improvement categories were infrastructure, such as recharging stations and alternative fuels, at 15 percent; and diesel emission improvements at 6 percent.
These results were not surprising, Chris Murphy, DuPont's global automotive industry director, told us. "We have a good sense for what new things are being worked on. Materials affect efforts for improving battery density, and breakthroughs going on in engine performance, so we do get involved in battery designs and combustion engine improvements," he said. DuPont provides many materials for automotive applications, including fuel line applications.
To help automotive engineers develop fuel-efficient, low-emission, vehicles while maintaining safety, comfort, performance, and cost goals, the company has organized its automotive materials science and global development teams to focus on specific industry needs across systems. These are lightweighting, engine efficiency, bio-based solutions, electrification, and alternative drive systems. This focus on cross-system needs is in addition to the existing one on vehicle systems, such as the electrical systems team, or the powertrain or interior teams.
For example, lightweighting is important whether it's in the chassis and its components or the powertrain and its components, or in the interior. DuPont's competency, know-how, and materials that can be used in lightweighting the chassis can also be applied in the area of thermal management.
The new matrix focus may help DuPont be more efficient, quicker, and more accurate at converting what the industry says it's looking for into materials that meet its needs, said Murphy. "So we don't just respond to a request for new steering wheel materials. Instead, we look at how we can get materials with a lower environmental footprint. Then we can more quickly look at developing bio-based materials that may apply anywhere in the vehicle, rather than only addressing the perfect material for a steering wheel," he said.
I agree, Chuck. weak sales of EVs make EVs a weak contributor to CAFE standards. Of course that could change quickly if battery technology breakthroughs bring down the cost of EVs and hybrids. What do you think the chances of that are?
I agree, Rob. EVs have the potential to help boost CAFE, but first, someone's going to have to sell them. Nissan Leaf's recent sales numbers have been unimpressive.
I agree, Mydesign. Until there is a significant breakgrough, the EVs will probably not contribute greatly to meeting CAFE standards. As it stands now, the EVs will proably not have sufficient sales to help car makers meet CAFE.
Lou and Matt, I suspect aerodynamics issues run smack into fashion and style issues, and what the car companies think people want in terms of appearance.
I asked Carole, the DuPont spokeswoman quoted in the article, if we could give more details. Carole, thanks for sharing these with our audience and addressing their questions about DuPont's survey design and the survey respondents.
Thinking_J, the pie chart represents categories summing up this section of the results of the survey, which included many questions posed to respondents. There are also other illustrations depicting somewhat different data from the survey, which you can access using the link we provided.
Want to share some info Ann didn't have room to include. Respondents were asked to report on the types of programs they are working on – not what they believe. As most folks probably know, the industry is currently working on programs designed to meet milestones along the way to 2025 regulations.
Also, the makeup of the survey represents several points of view: half report they are in the system/component segment of the value chain; 31% are in the OEM role; and 17% say they work in engine/engine services. Half are in the engineering role, with the rest spread between quality; corporate management; production engineering; and research & development.
Rob, in case of EVs the main two major areas which are lagging is Battery power and engine power: which are related to each other. So any further improvement has to happen in these two areas, otherwise it cannot improve efficiency. Putting up more charging stations is not an issue, but better yield from battery is an important factor.
Some time ago I helped restore some automobiles fron the 1920s. I was surprised at the range of materials the manufacturers used to provide light strong structures. These included not just steel, but hard and soft woods, aluminum, fabrics, and such plastics as existed then. During the decades that followed, the US manufacturers slid a long way backwards in the materials department. It's good to see that they are again gaining ground.
The graph represented what the 700 subscribers to WardsAuto "thought" as they were polled... not much more meaning than an "exit poll" at an election. It did not indicate where the automotive decision makers were actually spending their research dollars. It did not indicate relative value of improvement vs money spent in any scientific way.. it was the "gut" feeling by subscribers to a "automovtive information center" on the subject.
So .. at best we have some indication from a few in interested in the industry where they believe improvements are to be made.
Sorry Ann, I want a bit more "meat" to the subject before making any meaningful observations.
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