ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products

Online client newsletter | March 2022


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Energising the chassis

S-in motion® identifies smart steel solutions which lighten front chassis parts of electrified vehicles

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ArcelorMittal’s latest S-in motion® study has identified a range of lightweight, affordable, and CO2 friendly designs for the front chassis parts of a C-segment plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The technically powerful solutions can also be adapted for different powertrains including battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The catalogue of solutions utilises some of the latest high strength steels available. These include ferrite-bainite and complex phase grades which have specific properties that make them ideal for chassis applications. And they allow OEMs to create lighter, safer, and more environmentally friendly vehicles.

The S-in motion® front chassis study for PHEVs includes a catalogue of solutions for the subframe and lower control arms. As with all
S-in motion® studies, different designs have been identified and assessed for each component. The availability of different solutions enables OEMs to make the most appropriate choices for the challenges they face.

The scope of the S-in motion® front chassis study includes the subframe and two control arms.



Unique steels selected

The steels utilised in the S-in motion® front chassis study include hot rolled complex phase (CP) grades with tensile strengths of 800 MPa and hot rolled ferrite-bainite (FB) grades with 600 MPa tensile strength. ArcelorMittal is currently investigating CP grades with higher tensile strengths. These steels offer the high hole-expansion and fatigue performance required for chassis components with complex geometries.

Detail of the front subframe solution identified in the S-in motion® front chassis study.



The S-in motion® front chassis solutions offer carmakers significant cost and emissions advantages. Overall, the total cost of making the S-in motion® front chassis subframe and two control arms in steel is between 25 and 30 percent lower than a comparable aluminium solution.

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Costs are reduced by up to 30 percent for the front chassis including the subframe and lower control arms.

Steel also reduces the environmental impact of the parts. For example, overall CO2 emissions of the steel solution are 48 percent lower than a similar aluminium front chassis.

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The environmental impact of the S-in motion® front chassis is 48 percent lower than a comparable aluminium solution.

The solutions identified for the front chassis have been developed by ArcelorMittal based on our long experience with hot rolled ferrite bainitic and complex phase grades. Our Automotive Global R&D teams are ready to work with OEMs and Tier suppliers to support them in implementing these advanced steel solutions in their vehicles.





The study identified single- (left) and double-shell (right) designs for the lower control arms. Both are available with vertical and horizontal bushes.

For more info on the S-in motion® front chassis study for PHEVs,
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