More and more automakers are adding EVs to their fleet. (Source: Engineering and Technology)

While all this sounds promising for the environment, EVs don’t automatically translate into lower GHG emissions. According to World Auto Steel (WAS), the emissions from vehicle production will be greater than the amount of emissions from driving. As such, it is becoming increasingly important for manufacturers, policymakers and consumers alike to view material options by considering its life cycle assessment (LCA).

World Auto Steel Case Study

WAS conducted a case study in which they compared two popular lightweight materials for EVS; aluminum and Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS). The study followed the University of California Santa Barbara Automotive Energy & GHG Model (UCSB Model) for a comprehensive analysis of each material’s total energy use throughout its entire life cycle, from production to end of life recycling. For the study, WAS examined 1,000,000 BEVs of equal range that were made up of either entirely aluminum or AHSS.

BEVs made of AHSS require over 15 percent less energy than aluminum cars. (Source: World Auto Steel)

The study found that automakers can make over 17 percent more BEVs made of AHSS than aluminum BEVs with the same amount of energy. In other words, with the energy it takes to make 1 million aluminum BEVs, automakers can make 1.17 million AHSS BEVs.

Why is AHSS More Energy Efficient?

Aluminum production requires 8 times more energy per kilogram than steel production because the production process of aluminum is much more complicated and involves more steps than steel production. The aluminum BEVs in the study used up 30 percent more energy than those made from AHSS throughout its entire life cycle. Plus steel is 100 percent recyclable and can be reused almost indefinitely.

There are many sources of emissions output involved in the entire life cycle of a vehicle. (Source: World Auto Steel)

This poses a serious need to reexamine existing policies and regulations that only seek to reduce tailpipe emissions. By also taking into account emissions from the production of materials all the way to how a car is disposed at the end of its life cycle, automakers can grasp a better picture of the real impact of their choices on the environment.

A Sustainable Choice

As a solution-providing partner for automakers, steelmaker POSCO designed the perfect AHSS for cars that is lightweight, extremely strong, highly formable and environmentally friendly. POSCO GIGA STEEL belongs to the highest category for tensile strength of greater than 1GPa (Gigapascal). It can withstand more than 100 kg of force per square millimeter, making it 3 times stronger than aluminum. It is also 3.5 times cheaper than aluminum and 2.1 times cheaper to manufacture.

SEE ALSO: Infographic: Driving the Future with POSCO GIGA STEEL

POSCO GIGA STEEL is three times stronger than aluminum.

In 2016, POSCO sold 9 million tons of steel sheets for cars, making up 10 percent of the entire global automotive market for steel sheets. POSCO GIGA STEEL was designed to further improve the performance and efficiency of POSCO’s auto partners around the world. As the auto industry heads towards a future where environmentally-friendly EVs become the norm, POSCO will strive to equip its auto partners with the materials and tools necessary to stay ahead and competitive.

The LES issues the Deals of Distinction Award once a year to the most valuable licensing agreements in 5 sectors: Life Sciences, High Technology, Consumer Goods, Chemicals, Energy, Environment & Materials and Industry-University-Government Interface, or contracts that solved business issues in creative and innovative ways.

From left, Dong-eun Lee leader of the Energy Plant Materials Sales Group, Dr. Andrew Wasson, ExxonMobil Engineering Specialist, Se-don Choo, head of the Energy and Shipbuilding Materials Marketing Department, and Timothy Kinn, ExxonMobil Senior Commercial Advisor.

Last March, POSCO entered into a licensing agreement with ExxonMobil, the world’s largest oil company, for the production and supply of high manganese steel for slurry pipes. For the past 5 years, the two companies jointly developed POSCO’s high manganese steel for ExxonMobil’s oil sand slurry pipes and commercialized it for the first time ever.

SEE ALSO: Five High Manganese Steels for Limitless Innovations

The LES reviewed the licensing agreements of candidates and awarded POSCO and ExxonMobil the honors. The major factors taken into account were the reduction of time from materials development to market application from a standard 10 years to 5 years, and the drastic extension of steel pipe lifespan. The LES believes such improvements will reduce the overall operating costs for the oil sands industry.

Se-don Choo, head of POSCO’s Energy and Shipbuilding Materials Marketing department said, “The performance of POSCO’s high manganese steel has been recognized in various areas through collaboration with global enterprises. I hope that there will be many more cases of mutually beneficial cooperation between POSCO and its partners using high manganese steel in the future.”