However, the prominence of ridesharing services and the advent of self-driving cars are rapidly changing the ways we move around, and according to experts, vehicle ownership will likely decrease.

Despite these challenging circumstances, however, worldsteel believes steel is not only relevant, but it’s also crucial for the development and innovation of future vehicles.

What advantages does steel have, and how can it help take POSCO’s neo-mobility concept even further? Let’s find out as POSCO Newsroom presents worldsteel, “Future Mobility Solutions Will Have Steel at Their Heart.”

As the world’s mobility systems undergo profound changes, providers will continue to be reliant on steel to help overcome a number of key challenges.

Automotive transport sits at a critical junction. Patterns of mobility and the methods of getting from A to B are shifting in response to disruption from new technologies and more sustainable approaches to resource management.

Operators are looking at the ways we move and the environments in which we do it. Vehicle ownership will likely decrease, with integrated ridesharing, sustainable methods of public transport and automated vehicles set to represent a larger proportion of journeys.

This change will have to be reflected in the infrastructure that supports these new methods of mobility. Specially designed street signs and architecture will help signpost journeys for automated vehicles, while the quality and predictability of our road surfaces will grow in importance.

Steel intensive technologies such as battery storage and integrated charging infrastructure for electric vehicles also represent a key enabling factor that must be addressed if the next generation of automotive transport is to achieve mainstream adoption.

Some providers have explored installing charging infrastructure in the roads themselves, with steel belts in the vehicle tyres and steel electrodes under the highway surface allowing for charging to take place while in motion.

l Reinventing the Wheel?

It is not just transport infrastructure that is changing, the essential design of automotive interiors and exteriors are being rethought in line with shifting ergonomic demands. These new vehicles will be more of a shared living or working space on wheels than a traditional car or van.

Renault’s EZ-GO concept comfortably allows for six passengers and with its batteries and engine placed under the floor of the vehicle and a panoramic glass roof design, it offers a ride experience that maximises exterior views and passenger comfort.

As automotive design becomes more aligned with that of interior and living spaces, the need to maximise the room available in vehicles without compromising on safety will only grow.

Also, as populations rise and car ownership is likely to decrease, ensuring public transport services are able to accommodate a rise in passengers is highly important. The need for more efficient and sustainable transport will inevitably lead to more people making journeys in a smaller number of vehicles.

l A Place for Steel

The rollout of automated transport solutions will bring a renewed focus on safety. Some concepts, such as the EZ-GO, will have capped speed limits to ensure safety, as well as light and sound displays for pedestrian awareness due to their silent running.

Even with these measures there will be a need for robust vehicle chassis in case of collision. Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) can offer this protection without forcing automotive designers to compromise on panoramic views and interior comfort and adaptability.

The light-weighting advantages of AHSS will also be paramount as operators look to squeeze as much performance out of battery technology as possible. Lowering weight without compromising on safety will allow for extended maximum ranges for e-vehicles, with corresponding impacts on networks as charging stations can be more spread out.

Batteries will also require high levels of protection from collisions, with high-strength housings crucial as this allows for battery placement to be optimised for ergonomic considerations without impacting on safety.

High quality electrical steel will also help reduce core losses in e-motors, improving efficiency and boosting range. The extreme strength of new electrical steels means they are also able to withstand high levels of mechanical stress, extending the lifetime of the engine and allowing for smaller high-speed motors that save on space and weight.

The new wave of vehicles will bring a renewed focus on sustainability, safety and passenger comfort. It is clear that if future mobility systems are to overcome all three of these key challenges, then steel will play a key role.

Images: © Copyright Renault Group 2018

The original content published on the worldsteel’s ‘Our Stories’ section is available at: https://stories.worldsteel.org/automotive/future-mobility-solutions/

POSCO hosted the 2017 Global EV Materials Forum at the Songdo Global R&D Center in Incheon.

POSCO welcomed more than 380 local and overseas customers to the forum where they announced the current status of POSCO Group’s EV projects and strategies. The company also showcased its core EV technologies for high-value-added products such as motors, batteries and lightweight chassis/bodies.

During the forum, POSCO highlighted customer needs, market trends and development statuses in three areas: lightweight materials, traction motor cores and batteries. POSCO researchers also gave presentations on POSCO’s high-value-added products and solutions to share market insights and technological developments with the participants.

Participants listen to presentations at the 2017 Global EV Materials Forum.

In his keynote speech, In-hwan Oh, president of POSCO, said, “POSCO is in full preparation for the future of an electric vehicle ecosystem, to become a reliable partner to our customers.”

There were also external speakers at the forum, including Stephen Zoepf, Executive Director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University, who spoke about “Electric Vehicles: Adapting to a Changing Marketplace.” Another external speaker was Martin Woehrle, senior director of BMW Korea, who gave a presentation on the trends in EV development.

In addition, POSCO held a separate exhibition at the venue consisting of four key product zones: motors, batteries, light-weight chassis/bodies and charging infrastructure. There was also an EV model on display in the Highlight Zone for a better understanding of the structure of EVs.

Visitors examine the electric Nissan Leaf

On display In the lightweight chassis/bodies exhibition zone was POSCO GIGA STEEL for lightweight chassis/bodies, which is lighter but much stronger than existing automotive steel sheets. Also on display was POSCO’s lithium materials for EV batteries; POSCO is the first company in Korea to commercially produce lithium for EV batteries.

In the motor zone was POSCO Daewoo’s a high-efficiency traction motor core for EVs made with POSCO’s Hyper NO, its highest-grade, non-oriented electrical steel. POSCO is already supplying it to major automakers.

The charging infrastructure zone showed POSCO ESM and POSCO Chemtech’s core materials of EV batteries, such as cathode and anode materials. In addition, POSCO ICT is the only company in Korea to provide a total-service electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including supply, installation and operation to membership management and supplementary services.

To close, POSCO pledged to become a “Total Solution Provider” for its partners in the auto industry bracing for the age of electric vehicles with its innovative technology, premium products and customized services.

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Contrary to popular belief, mass reduction does not automatically equal fuel savings, especially when it comes to urban driving. There are other factors that determine the fuel efficiency of a vehicle such as driving cycle, vehicle size and its powertrain. Until recently, there was a  lack of variety in engine types and powertrains, so even though automakers reduced the weight of car frames, they could not apply a complementary engine or powertrain to the lighter parts.

So, have automakers been lightweighting for nothing?

Of course not, in the past decade alone, engines and powertrains have also become extremely efficient through advancements in start-stop-systems and downsizing, and newer options including hybrids, electric batteries and range extenders that now allow automakers to capitalize on their lightweight materials.

Although there are several lightweight materials, below are 5 reasons why AHSS continues to be the lightweight material of choice for automakers:

1. Decision Makers Care About the Environment

Well, not everyone, but many countries around the world have started the process to phase out gasoline and diesel-fueled cars, including India and China, the two largest automotive markets in the world. Governments are taking serious action against climate change and it will reflect in their policies. Automakers are choosing to lightweight their vehicles for lower emission rates with AHSS, because not only is AHSS lightweight, there are no trade-offs with other vital features such as safety and cost-effectiveness.

2. Everyone’s Going Electric

Globally, automakers are investing in electric vehicles (EVs) in line with national and international environmental policies. However, EVs still have a ways to go before they become the norm. EVs will face the same safety requirements as regular cars, but with the added responsibility of protecting the battery and its flammable components during a crash.

In 2016 there were several car accidents involving the Tesla Model S, where leaked battery fluids caused fires. Automakers need to find a solution to make EVs as safe, and eventually, safer than traditional cars. As an innovative automotive material, AHSS was built for safety.

3. Safety is Always First

Safety is and should always be the number one priority for automakers, material providers and policymakers alike. Even with all the hype about autonomous driving and sensors, there is very little chance that policymakers will reverse the stringent safety regulations in place today. People want to feel safe, no matter what type of car they are getting into.  

2016 Smart Fortwo and the Mercedes S Class take part in a crash test (Source: Green Car Reports)

One possible material solution is Complex Phase (CP) steel, a type of POSCO GIGA STEEL for the vehicle’s side panels, bumper rails and door impact bars- the parts that determine the safety ratings of the vehicle. It has superior strength and shock-absorbing qualities, without the added weight of traditional high-strength materials, and that’s why carmakers such as GM Korea, Ssangyong Motors and Renault Samsung Motors all use POSCO GIGA STEEL.

4. Cost is Always Second

This goes for automakers as well as drivers on the consuming end. Drivers want lower costs without compromising safety and performance ratings, and desire fuel efficiency- a major reason why automakers are lightweighting.

Some automakers choose alternative materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber to meet lightweight requirements to find that not only are the materials more costly over steel, factories need an equipment overhaul to work with them. Moreover, there are additional costs related to training employees to work with new materials, whereas all auto manufacturers are familiar with welding and forming steel.  

Take a look at this infographic and see how AHSS stacks up against other lightweight materials in terms of cost and performance.  

5. It’s Not Over Till It’s Over

No two lightweight materials are the same when observed under the life-cycle approach, a comprehensive life cycle assessment of a material’s automotive carbon emissions from production to disposal. Often times, the process of manufacturing lightweight materials and improved powertrains result in more carbon emissions than they are saving.

The life cycle assessment can be used to determine the carbon output of a vehicle. (Source: World Auto Steel)

At the end of the day, steel has the lowest production-related emissions and can be recycled at the end of its lifecycle. Steel remains the most recycled material because it can be reapplied in different forms almost infinitely.

Automakers are increasingly incorporating lightweight materials to their new models. Although competition for the greatest market share of lightweight materials is fierce, AHSS is by far the leading material when it comes to lightweight solutions. According to McKinsey & Company’s Lightweight, Heavy Impact report, the percentage of high-strength materials used for cars will increase to 38 percent by 2030, compared to 15 percent in 2010. Steel continues to evolve according to the changing demands of the auto market, and for now, there is no other multi-solution material that can compete.

Cover photo courtesy of Hyundai.

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