ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products

Online client newsletter | June 2022


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Driving sustainability

Steel wheels offer quick way to reduce emissions and improve electric vehicle efficiency

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Over the past few decades, car wheels have evolved to feature an open design which helps cool the brakes of vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). But with the transition to electric cars, that open design is no longer necessary. Instead, carmakers are opting for closed designs which can improve the aerodynamic performance – and range – of their electric vehicles.

Steel wheels are lighter than aluminium, extending the range of electric vehicles

Steel wheels are between six- and eleven-percent lighter than their aluminium counterparts and have lower CO2 emissions over their full lifecycle. For automakers facing potential regulations on the lifecycle emissions of their vehicles, steel wheels offer an easy way to cut weight and reduce emissions quickly.

Source: ArcelorMittal

CO2-equivalent emissions for steel and aluminium wheels

ArcelorMittal undertook a benchmarking study to assess the weight of wheels on B- and C-segment vehicles manufactured between 2004 and 2021. More than 130 steel and aluminium wheels were assessed.
On average, 15-inch steel wheels were 6.7 percent lighter than their aluminium counterparts.
When it came to 16-inch wheels, the weight of the aluminium solutions were 11.1 percent heavier than the average for steel wheels in the same size.
This is a clear advantage for steel as lighter wheels reduce emissions linked to the use phase of car’s life.

‘The zero-carbon car: Ablating material emissions is next on the agenda’; McKinsey & Company, September 2020.

Emissions from materials become more important as electrification using renewable energy sources increases.

Steel improves total cost of ownership

“Steel wheels are formed from flat steel products,” notes Jérôme Favero, head of automotive steel solutions at ArcelorMittal Global R&D. “By contrast, aluminium wheels are cast, making it easier to create different designs and shapes. However, the addition of a simple hubcap to a steel wheel can transform its appearance and aerodynamic efficiency.”



A 2019 study of the Tesla Model 3 by Car and Driver magazine found that wheels with hubcaps improved the vehicle’s efficiency by an average of 3.4 percent. Range was boosted by 16 kilometres (10 miles). “Hubcaps can be produced in almost any shape and colour,” says Jérôme Favero. “This makes tailoring a vehicle’s appearance very simple.”

Source: Car and Driver magazine, December 2019

Energy consumption of the Tesla Model 3 without hubcap (left) and with hubcap and steel wheels (right)

LEVC has selected steel wheels for the latest edition of its TX electric taxi

For shared mobility solutions such as taxis and autonomous vehicles, the total cost of ownership is more important than aesthetics. “This allows fleet owners to specify sustainable steel wheels which are durable, lighter, and more efficient,” notes Julio L. Rivera, LCA specialist with ArcelorMittal Global R&D Sustainability.



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