ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
Source: ArcelorMittal
CO2-equivalent emissions for steel and aluminium wheels
‘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 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)
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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