Ultralight Vehicles Jayna Bhatt ChE 379

Overview What are Ultralight Vehicles? Ultralight Materials Composites and their Benefits Safety Efficiency Cost

What are Ultralight Vehicles? Lighter than conventional steel-based cars Increase efficiency Sometimes combined with hybrid technology Ultralight, yet very strong

Materials Sometimes lighter steels & aluminum Decrease in amount of steel used Advanced Polymeric Composites –Enhanced supporting matrix of polymer reinforcing fibers for strength –Carbon-carbon composites – tolerate high temperatures, but expensive

Composites and their Benefits Weight reduction greater –65% –Light steels & aluminum – 25% & 55% Safer than reducing amount of steel Less material and parts required to build auto body

Composites and their Benefits Increased Durability –No Rusting –Leads to less parts –Tolerate higher temperatures

Safety Mixing of cars okay Absorb 12 times amount of energy steel absorbs Greater strength and stiffness

Efficiency Lose extra, unnecessary weight ¾ energy needed to accelerate weight of car Double efficiency Combination of ultralight vehicles and hybrid

Cost Materials are more expensive Less material required No need for body shop/paint Balances out – better mileage

Conclusions Lighter, more efficient Safer Pays itself off