In order to adapt, the automotive industry is learning to make cars differently. Underpinning all of these advancements is a need for stronger, lighter, and more durable materials.

Below we take a closer look at three trends that are fundamentally changing the way consumers think about cars, and what the car industry is doing to stay ahead.

Shared Mobility

Companies like Uber and Lyft have left an indelible mark on the way people use cars. While it used to be understood that a vehicle was one’s personal property and space, those ideas are changing. Over the last five years, car sharing services have seen 30 percent annual growth, and McKinsey predicts that one out of 10 cars will be a shared vehicle by 2030.

With this much sharing, vehicles will need to be replaced more frequently as they will be used more often and experience more everyday wear and tear. As consumers move away from owning one car and begin to use services that offer on-demand vehicles for specific uses, the materials used to make these cars need to improve.

Recently, many steelmakers have been working toward advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) solutions. AHSS steel solutions are also more durable than conventional steels, making them ideal for new cars that are going to be on the road with more frequency. This advancement is necessary as consumers begin to change their driving behaviors while maintaining high standards for safety and quality in the cars they use.  

Self-Driving Cars

Self driving cars are a fairly new idea, but in a short amount of time, they have consumed the imagination of the public and R&D labs around the world. Seemingly every company in the automotive industry is working on some form of a self-driving vehicle, and even those not in the industry are getting involved (see Google’s Waymo video below).

While autonomous cars are not yet market-ready, they will be soon. However, because it causes such a dramatic shift to the way people use cars, manufacturers will need to jump many hurdles before they are fully accepted by the public at large.

As with any new technology, access will be limited and expensive. In the beginning at least, it is unlikely that self-driving cars will be affordable enough for mass distribution. In addition, they must become more accessible for consumers. Most people have never seen, much less taken a ride in, a self-driving car. It is hard for people to imagine the experience, and even more difficult for them to place their trust in a piece of software located in a multi-ton vehicle. In order to ensure the trust of consumers, the auto industry must work to manufacture cars that are safer and more secure.

Advancements made in AHSS have allowed auto manufacturers to design cars with even stronger steel. Now, with auto steel being produced that goes beyond the 1,000 MPa range, consumers can feel more at ease with the software that enables them to get the grocery store.   

Electric Vehicles

Electric cars represent the forefront of the trend toward more fuel-efficient cars. Hybrid cars that use a combination of a gasoline powered engine and a rechargeable battery captured the attention of the industry after Toyota successfully launched its Prius in 1997. As car makers race to produce an electric vehicle that is viable for mass production, seemingly every major player is working toward a true electric car solution with zero emissions.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV offers a range of 200+ miles, a key milestone for consumers. (Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for Chevrolet)

Having relied on gas powered engines for over 100 years, the change to battery powered cars is changing the fundamental nature of how a car is made. Consumers have proven unwilling to change their driving habits and expectations, so manufacturers have struggled to build electric cars that can match the performance of their gas-powered cousins.

Advancements in lightweighting are required for electric cars as they will not be equipped with gas-powered engines. Also, improvements in battery technology are also needed so that EVs can increase their driving range and allow consumers to drive distances similar to what they can today.

Innovations in steel technology have given car manufacturers ideal options for lightweighting as new advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) offer lightweight, strong automotive steel. Compared to other alternatives, these new ultra high strength steels are also more eco-friendly to produce. Advancements in lithium extraction technology have also made the process faster and more environment-friendly.

The automotive industry is going through a renaissance. New expectations from consumers coupled with stricter regulations are forcing quick changes to an industry that has moved at its own pace for 100 years. As car manufacturers work to build cars that are safer, more durable, and much lighter, POSCO’s innovations in steel technology provide material solutions that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. Together with POSCO’s work in lithium extraction technology, they have also created more eco-friendly ways to make the rechargeable batteries for electric cars.     

This month, The Steel Wire will continue to look at how POSCO is driving the future of the automotive industry with its new advanced automotive steel solutions.

Volkswagen brought back its iconic Microbus in the form of a new electric, self-driving ID Buzz concept car. (Engadget)

The headlines from the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) were all about self-driving, electric, and connected cars. As these topics continued to be highlighted at NAIAS (see the new Volkswagen ID Buzz pictured above), there was also a focus on the importance of structural design.

Innovations in high-strength steel have allowed car makers to reduce the weight of vehicles without compromising safety. From large sedans to electric vehicles, advances in steel were spotted all throughout this year’s NAIAS with BMW’s new 5 Series and Ford’s new 2018 F-150 both showing off their lightweight aluminum and high-strength steel compounds that helped shed more than 100 kg from the BMW model.

The push to make vehicles lighter raises safety concerns. Lighter cars require lighter steel, and to make lighter steel there are typically other compromises that have to be made. POSCO, however, with its advanced high-strength automotive steel, has found the solution for automakers to make cars that are both safe and lightweight.

The new BMW 5 Series (left) and Ford F150 (right) made their debut at the North American International Auto Show. Both models used advanced high-strength steel to reduce weight and maintain safety. (NAIAS Image Archive)

POSCO’s Lightweight Auto Solutions Increase Safety

In 2016, POSCO became the first steelmaker to participate at NAIAS, displaying its advanced high-strength steel for automobiles, including its the PosM Steel and hot press forming steel (HPF). PosM Steel is five times stronger than other types of steel making it great for impact absorption and increased safety.

Providing a rapid solution upgrade for strengthened crash requirements, the safety of POSCO’s advanced materials has been certified by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). In addition, the strength and crashworthiness of POSCO’s advanced steel solution received a score of 5 stars from USNCAP and ‘good’ safety ratings on the IIHS Moderate Overlap Front and Small Overlap Front tests. By reducing possible safety concerns with high strength body solutions, POSCO is able to contribute to the advancement of global auto manufacturers.

With steel being more important than ever in the auto industry, POSCO’s commitment to improving the strength and safety in its automotive steel has helped it maintain its position as a global industry leader. As Gregory Warden of GM said, “there is a whole new generation of steel coming” – and POSCO is helping to lead the way by creating new solutions that guarantee safety and fit the unique needs of its partners.

Don’t miss any of the exciting stories from The Steel Wire – subscribe via email today.

Advancements in electric cars, autonomous driving, car connectivity, and AI were on full display. Nissan and BMW unveiled plans to use Microsoft’s personal assistant technology, Cortana, with their cars. Honda became the first major manufacturer to develop an electric concept car specifically designed for ride-sharing. And as for self-driving cars – Nissan announced it would bring autonomous driving support to its Leaf electric car, Hyundai introduced one that would be affordable enough for the masses, and Audi announced a partnership with Nvidia to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020.

With all of the focus on electric cars and autonomous driving, it is easy to forget the basic building blocks that are needed to make these cars a reality. As Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt noted at CES, “Historically humans have zero tolerance of death by machine,” and for further adoption by the public, safety must be reinforced in autonomous vehicles. Increased safety in cars often goes hand-in-hand with heavier materials that can withstand more pressure. However, the push for more fuel efficient electric cars is pushing the industry to build with more lightweight components.

Car manufacturers are working to find the right balance between strength, weight, and price. The EPA has estimated that reducing a vehicle’s weight by 45kg (100lbs) will improve fuel efficiency by 1%, and while more lightweight materials do exist in aluminum and magnesium, they are often too cost-prohibitive for general use.

POSCO Body Concept Electric Vehicle

POSCO’s PBC-EV is both safe and lightweight

On this front, POSCO has been working to develop solutions for car manufacturers. The PBC-EV, or POSCO Body Concept Electric Vehicle, is one product of that research as POSCO sought to create a lighter car with the same strength and safety that is expected in today’s modern car market. POSCO focused on two main points when developing this lightweight car body. The first was the application of a combination of POSCO’s most advanced steels including TRIP, PosMCT950E, and PosMCT980B. Secondly, POSCO optimized existing construction methods and worked to introduce new techniques in order to both lighten and strengthen the body of the automobile. With its PBC-EV, POSCO was able to reduce weight by 26% while still maintaining the highest levels of body strength.

Magnesium technology

POSCO materials were used in the design of Renault’s EOLAB concept car

Many in the auto industry are setting their sights on magnesium as the future of car manufacturing. Magnesium can be easily molded and it is both lightweight and strong. Due to its high price, car makers have not fully embraced the move to magnesium yet, but POSCO is already preparing for this probability. Last month, POSCO’s World Premium Materials (WPM) – Magnesium Business Division organized a seminar with industry experts and automotive engineering students to discuss the future of magnesium in car manufacturing. Experts in magnesium, molding, bonding, and surface treatment were invited to speak about the application of magnesium technology in automobiles and students gave presentations on their own experience developing race cars.

Even though cars have been around since the late 19^th century, new ideas continue to force the industry to adapt and change. And whether it is optimizing existing manufacturing processes or working to utilize technologies for the future, POSCO remains committed to finding innovations in the auto industry.

Don’t miss any of the exciting stories from The Steel Wire – subscribe via email today.