Economical and Environmental Factors in Light Alloys Automotive Applications

Abstract

The effects of mass reduction through substitution of ferrous components by equivalent Al or Mg alloy components on the vehicle's cost and CO 2 emissions are discussed using M.F. Ashby's penalty functions and exchange constants method. The viability of substitutions of Al alloys by Mg alloys is also considered. Substitutions of cast components at equal volume and panels and beams at constant stiffness are considered. Substitutions of cast ferrous components are economically the only viable ones in terms of the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) liability, although the cost penalty can be fully offset by the gasoline savings over the life of the car for most other forms of light alloy substitutions. When primary alloys are used, the gasoline savings over the lifetime of a lighter car offset the CO 2 footprint of Al alloys in all cases. Because of their larger CO 2 footprint, the environmental feasibility is somewhat restricted for electrolytic Mg, and more so for Mg produced by the Pidgeon process. Due to their high recyclability, Al casting alloys have a significant environmental advantage over all other light alloy applications. Viable substitutions of existing Al components by Mg components are largely restricted to castings of electrolytic Mg.

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“…Hence the replacement of Fe-based alloys with aluminium alloys and magnesium alloys can lead to substantial reductions in energy usage over the life cycle of an automobile [1,2]. The greatest benefits are achieved with the use of cast magnesium, particularly high pressure die casting where the excellent castability of magnesium can be used to advantage [3].…”

Exploring green criminology: toward a green criminological revolution

“…Moreover, some of the green technologies used to improve vehicle efficiency are still environmentally destructive. For example, lightweight vehicles, which use less gasoline, are created from special alloys that take an incredible amount of energy to mine and are often mined in environmentally destructive ways (Cáceres, 2007). Thus, in the case of automobile fuel efficiency, using technology to reduce carbon pollution may be offset by the reorganization and expansion of the treadmill of production with respect to productive practices and in terms of its expansion into national territories with the required natural resource stores and low labor costs.…”