GM Bets on Lightweight, Malleable NanoSteel

[uRabbit]

NanoSteel is a leader in nano-structured steel materials design and now has GM $’s in their coffers.

David Clark - CleanMPG - Aug 9, 2012

NanoSteel's Nano-Structured Steel overview.

In an effort to raise fuel economy through lightening, GM has invested in a small steel company called NanoSteel that has created a new Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) materials for lightweighting vehicles through altered metal grain structures yielding stronger and lighter weight steel alloys.

With CAFÉ requirements of 35.5 mpg by 2016 and 54.5 mpg by 2025 looming, NanoSteel will be but one of the key enablers making these targets both feasible and affordable for GM looking forward.

According to GM, the use of NanoSteel’s revolutionary new metals could reduce the average new cars weight by several hundred pounds while offering similar and even better crash protection than today’s best steels.

One aspect of the NanoSteel product story is that its AHSS strength can be maintained after cold forming at room temperature which could potentially save the automaker $ millions by not having to heat the material prior to an intermediate or final stamping or forming process.

In a prepared statement, Jon Lauckner, GM’s CTO, VP of Global R&D and President of GM Ventures added the following:

“We are investing in NanoSteel because of the opportunity associated with their new steel alloy technology. Over the next several years, light-weighting of vehicles will be a major focus area to improve fuel economy.”

GM Ventures joined lead shareholders EnerTech Capital and Fairhaven Capital Partners and five existing investors to complete the Series C financing round. Terms of the GM Ventures investment were not disclosed.

[WriConsult]

Good. We need to see more of this, especially in cars' rear pillars. Look on any contemporary hatchback, and the C and D pillars are HUGE, often merging together in a delta shape.

Not only that, but if you look closely the actual pillar is often MUCH wider underneath than the sheetmetal would suggest. Many cars now have the outer 3-4" of their back windows blacked out, hiding the actual width of the pillars.

This is all a consequence of increased rollover test requirements for ALL vehicles, despite the fact that the vast majority of rollovers happen to SUVs and not cars. Which is now probably leading to a few extra collisions because people can't see out the back of their cars anymore. More use of high-strength steel would allow the rear pillars to be made narrower again, with rearward visibility more like it used to be prior to the early 2000s.

[phoebeisis]

Wri
So that is the why of the funny looking oversized pillars?
Yes-pickups SUVs-like my Suburban-flip/roll-
cars don't seen to roll very often now

So didn't I read-here- that Ford was considering heavier use of aluminum to make the new regs
Is GM hoping to use steel-no doubt cheaper?
Don't suppose they will be a foolish as Navstar-and put all their eggs in one basket?
Charlie

[herm]

"several hundred pounds"

That got my attention..

Ford: "Our trucks are made of recycled aluminum cans"
GM: " Our trucks are made of NanoSteel"

The cowboys will go "Huh?"

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by herm

"several hundred pounds"

That got my attention..

Ford: "Our trucks are made of recycled aluminum cans"
GM: " Our trucks are made of NanoSteel"

The cowboys will go "Huh?"

Several hundred pounds? Great, that'll make the Cruze only be 100lbs heavier than the Civic!

[herm]

I wonder what the reason for the weight difference between a Civic and a Cruze is.. cant be several hundred lbs of sound insulation in the Cruze

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

I wonder how quiet the Cruze Eco is compared to the 2012 Civic.

[owlmaster08]

Every little cut in weight helps...one issue will the cost for said weight reduction.

[xcel]

Hi Edwin:

The Cruze's interior "quiet" is significantly better than the Civic but its weight really hurts.

Owlmaster, it could cost less?

Wayne

[phoebeisis]

Wayne-
Didn't you report the Sonic to be a quiet-quality- low noise harshness vibration car??
An even better car-for its class-than the Cruze- the class leader more or less with the Cruze being a very good- but not best in class car?

But I'm guessing the Sonic was heaviest in class???
Trim 100 lbs off a Sonic-might get 2% better city- .5mpg or more-adds up.
Ford and GM have really turned thing around.
12 years ago they were pickup/suv selling manufacturers-they now have great cars again-after 35 years of indifferent cars (Corvette and Mustang(maybe) being exceptions).
AMAZING turnaround
Charlie