In a signal that the demand for fuel-efficient and clean vehicles continues to gain momentum, the Obama administration convened a meeting of automakers and utility executives last month to explore how these two historically separate industries will work together to roll out electric vehicles.
And, even though Obama’s ambitious pledge to have one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 will be supported by $2.4 billion in grants, numerous studies have pointed out multiple barriers to widespread EVs adoption.
The most common are:
- Limited range
- Long recharging times
- High battery costs
- Insufficient battery manufacturing capacity
- Current lack of infrastructure and associated cost to build it
- Integrating electric vehicles with the electric grid
- Consumers’ upfront costs and payback
While businesses and policymakers are respectively working to tackle these barriers, Rocky Mountain Institute believes one game-changing solution has received little attention: lightweighting. Shedding some weight could enable the widespread electrification of the U.S. personal vehicle fleet -- and overcome some of these critical barriers.
How Lightweighting Works
The key to taking significant amount of weight out of a vehicle without making it smaller is to substitute lighter, yet stronger materials such as advanced composites, aluminum or lightweight steel for heavier materials. Once the platform is lighter, the engine (or battery) can be downsized while maintaining original performance. (Learn more about alternative materials and innovative ways to drive down the cost of production.)
Overall, RMI estimates that average vehicle weight increased 20 percent over the last 20 years -- two-thirds of which is from cars getting denser, not bigger. In other words, larger vehicles aren’t causing the automotive pounds to accumulate—it’s bigger engines, thicker steel and heavier parts.
Simply put, every pound removed from the electric vehicle fleet will make electrification easier. Trying to put a battery into a heavy automobile designed to run on an internal combustion engine creates unnecessary challenges. By reducing weight, cars can be designed to run on electricity and reap the multiple benefits of efficiency.
Kelly Vaughn is an analyst with 
Cost of the proposed
Cost of the proposed changes?
Safety of the new body strengths due to changed materials?
Battery weight seems as though it will not change much soon.
Obamas promise of a million EVs on the road by 2015 has the same value as the rest of his campaign promises - absolutely nothing unless it is convenient for him.
'Overall, RMI estimates that average vehicle weight increased 20 percent over the last 20 years -- two-thirds of which is from cars getting denser, not bigger. In other words, larger vehicles aren’t causing the automotive pounds to accumulate—it’s bigger engines, thicker steel and heavier parts.'
İ doubt every part of the above statement. There have been weight decreases due to better materials and design but also additions to meet safety regulations.
One problem today is too many places like RMİ where it seems people sit around dreaming up catchy things to get into the news!
Costs
"One problem today is too many places like RMİ where it seems people sit around dreaming up catchy things to get into the news!"
Hmmm - THAT'S a problem?! What else is on your list of problems? No don't tell me. Instead, just tell me the design trend world wide - not in the US alone - where both weight and fuel efficiency are concerned. What did you say? One's going up and the other's going down? I can't hear you! Is that Rush I hear blaring in the background? Can't be, cause even HE's in favour of good ol' American innovation....