Ford-Alcan deal to expand use of aluminum
By: Drivers.com staff
Date: 2015-06-17
A landmark, multi-year deal has been signed by Ford and Alcan Aluminium for the supply of aluminum that will support the expanded use of this metal in the production of safe, more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
In many automotive applications, aluminum can replace twice its weight in heavier materials, significantly reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. A 10 per cent reduction in mass, for instance, yields a 6 to 8 per cent improvement in fuel economy.
The benefit to air quality is equally significant: every ton of aluminum that goes into cars and trucks reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 tons over the life of the vehicle. The fuel savings and reduced CO2 emissions are even greater for heavier vehicles such as pickups and sport utility vehicles.
The weight reduction from the use of aluminum in structures also supports the downsizing of other components and systems, thereby further reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Aluminum is a leading material for vehicle body structures designed to meet the 80 mpg goal of the Program for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV)-a joint project of the United States government and the North American auto industry.
Commenting on the agreement, Jacques Bougie, president and CEO of Alcan, said: "This deal is another major step for Alcan in the realization of our automotive strategy to be the leading aluminum supplier and strategic partner to the global automotive industry. Our partnership with Ford is taking aluminum use to the next level in the automotive industry and will help Ford to provide consumers with more fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly vehicles."
Alcan continues to be Ford's strategic partner in the development of aluminum-intensive vehicles, including the innovative hybrid-electric Prodigy unveiled earlier this month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Through the application of numerous leading-edge technologies, the Prodigy achieves a fuel economy of nearly 80 miles per gallon without sacrificing performance or functionality.
Another advantage of aluminum is that it is 100 per cent recyclable. An estimated 85 to 90 per cent of automotive aluminum scrap is currently being captured for recycling-a higher recycling rate than for even aluminum beverage cans. Life cycle studies show energy savings of 94 per cent by using recycled aluminum in automotive applications.
In addition to its environmental benefits, aluminum's high strength-to-weight ratio allows for enhanced vehicle acceleration and handling while reducing noise, vibration and harshness. The metal is also a safe and crashworthy material for automotive applications, providing at least equivalent energy absorption and crashworthiness to today's steel structured vehicles at about half the weight.
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