Engineering Materials

Engineering materials is a discussion led by Design News Contributing Materials Editor Doug Smock on important new developments and applications that affect mechanical design. Metals covered include all types of steel and nonferrous metals, in all shapes. Resins covered include nylons, polycarbonates, polysulfides, polyimides, and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). Other materials covered include ceramics and rubber. Topics covered include materials enhancement, new applications, process technology, tooling, sustainability, and economic issues. Posts will include latest news from global events such as K 2007, the Alliance of Plastics Processors Annual Conference, the National Plastics Exposition, and the annual technical conference (ANTEC) of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

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Friday, May 11, 2007

Buy a Smart Car If You Love Al Gore

Hate parallel parking? Maybe the so-called “Smart Car” is for you. I first saw one at the German plastics fair (the K) in 1998. It looked more like an enclosed golf cart than a car to me. And, I sure didn’t try to get in one. It’s less than 100 inches long, and probably would be crushed by a very large kid on heelies pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with bricks. I bring this up because DaimlerChrysler wants to sell the vehicle in the United States. I’m not sure why because it was less than a stellar success in Europe where its tiny size was a perfect fit for older towns. I suspect it’s a reaction to Chrysler’s own plans to sell Chinese Tiggios in America. I don’t know why they’re called “smart cars”. That term is usually used in reference to cars with a lot of artificial intelligence. This car is more famous for its extensive use of plastics to save weight. They were a test bed for thermoplastics body panels from GE Plastics. The new “smartfortwo” (a littletoocute) features what is described as the largest polycarbonate roof ever fitted to a car. Plastic glazing is definitely coming, as I described in the Chevy Volt. But the Smart car isn’t for me. If you want to do something short of jumping off a bridge with Al Gore to save the planet, buy a Smart Car.

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(Add your comments)

at 5/11/2007 7:53:48 AM, John Dodge said:
A smart car, heh? I just want a car that gets 70 MPG, first!

at 7/10/2007 9:08:04 AM, Bob said:
The thing is, the car was not only a hit in Europe in smaller towns, but the larger towns as well. There is one on almost every corner in Paris. It's a light, fuel-efficient car. And, surprisingly, it does really well in crash test. I've seen videos of it hitting a wall (off-center) at 70 mph and both of the doors both opened and closed just fine, and there were no intrusions into the passenger compartment. It's not only smart, but it's safe.

at 8/3/2007 10:31:13 AM, Do not buy it said:
I used to have one, I don't have it anymore, also I don't have my left leg either after the crash.

at 9/23/2007 7:16:45 AM, Jim said:
The idiot that said he used to have one but lost his left leg in a crash. You can loose your life in any car. Idiot!!!

at 10/1/2007 12:42:56 PM, fast cars said:
Being that I lean toward the redneck side of automotive, give me the SUV. I see how many people "maintain" their auotmobiles and would rather be in something big than squish in some plastic bubble. Al Gore is not about saving the planet. If he was, he would not ride in the gas guzzling luxury automobiles.

at 1/26/2008 11:08:41 PM, MACK said:
7/10/2007 9:08:04 AM, Bob said in part: . . . And, surprisingly, it does really well in crash test. I''ve seen videos of it hitting a wall (off-center) at 70 mph and both of the doors both opened and closed just fine, and there were no intrusions into the passenger compartment. It''s not only smart, but it''s safe. _____ Yes, that is surprising At 70 MPH? I don''t believe it. The company Smart itself, is smart enough that they would not even make that bold claim. Their brochures don''t even discuss such impressive crash test results! As a matter of fact, they don''t discuss any crash test results. Smart does not have any crash test ratings for front, rear and side impact in the U.S. If your claim is true, the Smart Group is missing out on one of the biggest promotional campaigns in auto industry history. If the “Safety cell” is indestructible at 70 MPH, they would promote it. The key safety feature of the Smart car is the “Safety Cell” it is just a roll bar cage, with a crumple zone in the front and rear. Smart Group describes the safety cell and its crash box crumple zones as providing enhanced protection to the occupants in “minor collisions” 70 MPH is not a minor collision.

at 6/4/2008 8:05:53 PM, mack is a tool said:
the car is suprisingly safe. look at the nhtsa and iihs results and use youtube to look at the vid at 70mph and the iihs test

at 6/30/2008 7:12:04 PM, AKM said:
Funny how things change in a year!!! Where are the big trucks now? Being sold in 0% schemes, buy-one-get-one, exchange-one-for-your-motherinlaw....and the smart cars are selling like hot cake. There might be some hope for the environment after all.

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