Hybrid Design for Automotive Body Panels

Abstract

The increasing trend for electric mobility adoption brings new challenges to the automotive industry, requiring a new approach to the manufacture processes, materials adopted and adaptation the market needs. The conventional technologies used to manufacture automotive parts imply significant overhead costs (tooling, assembly, etc.) which can only be justified by large series. The need of light and cost effective materials was the driving force of this study, acknowledging that the growth of the electric vehicles market will be driven by price. The study aims to deliver a hybrid design material solution that would offer quality and security to the vehicle, affordable to everyone, developing engineered solutions in terms of design and production process.