INDUSTRY REPORT
We are seeing the growing use of aluminium content in everything from bonnets and suspension parts to doors and engine radiators
Sustainability goals
Closed-loop recycling production strategies offer the automotive industry the opportunity to embrace environmentally friendly reclaim and recycle practices , improve energy efficiency , reduce their carbon footprint and ensure greater sustainability
“ Aluminium has emerged as a key weapon in the automotive industry ’ s pursuit of its sustainability . At the front end , we are seeing this take the form of the traditional reliance on steel ceding way to the increasing use of aluminium in both vehicle and body parts . At the back end , we are looking at automakers and aluminium manufacturers working collaboratively to promote environmentally friendly , closed-loop recycling processes for end-of-life vehicles having significant aluminium content ,” explained analyst Frost & Sullivan .
As the world ’ s most recycled material , steel plays a central role in transitioning to a low-carbon , circular economy . However , aluminium ’ s lightweighting attributes are also a boon for automakers striving to reduce vehicle weight ; it is estimated that the use of one kilogramme of aluminium translates to an equivalent one kilogramme reduction in the total weight of the vehicle . In short , it supports the critical sustainability objectives of improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions . “ Not surprisingly , therefore , we are seeing the growing use of aluminium content in everything from bonnets and suspension parts to doors and engine radiators . Trends indicate that from current levels of about 150 kilogrammes , the average aluminium content in vehicles is set to surge almost one and a half times to 250 kilogrammes over the next five years ,” said F & S .
“ Aluminium also has a key role to play in the development of electric vehicles ( EVs ) primarily due to its lightweighting capabilities . This attribute reduces the overall weight of the vehicle , thereby improving fuel efficiency and enabling increased range . For instance , research indicates that an approximately 100kg reduction in the weight of an EV can translate to a 10 % or higher increase in range , thereby assuaging consumer concerns over range anxiety which , so far , has been a major restraint to the adoption of EVs . In addition to the range , aluminium is also seen as being the bedrock for improved EV performance , strength and safety . While lightweighting capabilities are undoubtedly the primary draw , aluminium ’ s affordability and easy accessibility represent additional bonuses ,” added the analyst .
For the EV ecosystem , aluminium offers other potential uses . It is being evaluated for deployment in charging infrastructure , while novel , high-energy aluminium-air batteries are being touted as possibly superior to conventional lithium-ion batteries .
One of the inherent advantages of aluminium is that it can be repeatedly used and recycled .
“ The World Economic Forum estimates that closed-loop recycling – a process by which a product is used , recycled , made into a new product again such that it does not enter landfill – can reduce energy consumption by up to 75 %. Such processes offer multiple benefits : reduced pressure on natural resources , decreased pollution and less need for landfill space . The manufacturing process is designed with recycling in mind that leads to sustainability across the supply chain . Aluminium , which does not lose its quality during recycling , is particularly suited for environmentally friendly closed-loop processes ,” said F & S .
“ Therefore , as aluminiumintensive vehicles reach their end of life over the next ten years , what implications will it have for the automotive industry in terms of minimizing its carbon footprint ? In this context , one of the major findings of the report is that by 2035 , a recycled volume of 125kt of aluminium scrap will be associated with a massive savings of 950,000 tons in carbon emissions .”
More specifically for the automotive industry , an overwhelming – almost 95 % – of aluminium content in end-of-life vehicles has the potential to be recovered and recycled . n
Electrification , smart and shared mobility represent major strides towards environmental sustainability and efficient transportation
ISMR February 2022 | sheetmetalplus . com | 27