ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
New design options for the rear chassis of a battery electric vehicle using our latest advanced high strength steels.
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Firstly, whatever powertrain is used in a vehicle, the efficient use of energy is a critical factor over the car’s life. Reducing weight drives a decrease in CO2 emissions for internal combustion engines (ICE) and increases the range of battery and hybrid electric vehicles (BEVs and HEVs).
Secondly, tailored blanks make a significant contribution to the absorption of energy in a crash. This helps to protect the driver and vehicle occupants. The role of tailored blanks in keeping ICE vehicles safe is well known. But it is even more critical for BEVs and HEVs as they have more weight to manage due to the presence of heavy batteries.
LWB solutions which use press hardenable steels (PHS) can contribute significantly to weight savings, and crash and stiffness performance
In most applications, AMTB’s solutions have a role to play in both weight savings and crash behaviour. A typical AMTB solution is a laser welded blank (LWB) which combines steel grades with different thicknesses and properties to create a single part. The part is then stamped before being assembled in the body-in-white (BIW).
AMTB continues to improve its offer with solutions which help carmakers to create light and affordable mobility solutions. In 2020 we added patch welding to our portfolio. This is another way for OEMs to tailor the properties of a blank to their own requirements.
By using two sub-blanks instead of a monolithic blank, OEMs can substantially improve the material usage efficiency and cut significantly CO2 emissions from the steel production process
While our solutions actively reduce the weight of final parts, AMTB can also help OEMs to optimise the quantity of steel they utilise. We have demonstrated that using a laser welded blank instead of a monolithic blank can help reduce the amount of steel required by up to 30 percent (More information). This reduces CO2 emissions as that steel does not need to be made – a crucial improvement to creating sustainable mobility solutions.
When AMTB’s solutions are combined with ArcelorMittal’s portfolio of steel grades for automotive, the design possibilities become almost infinite. With new hot stamping steels such as Usibor® 2000 and Ductibor® 1000, and the third generation of cold stamping steels, AMTB can push the boundaries of car design even further. And AMTB’s expert team can provide support at every stage of vehicle development – from initial concept to serial production. Contact our product development team now to start the discussion!
automotive.arcelormittal.com/contact
Bertrand Jacquier,
CEO of ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks (AMTB)