Eco Factor: High-strength, lightweight frame for electric vehicles.
JFE Steel Corp has developed a lightweight but highly strong steel frame for electric supply vehicles. The frame developed in collaboration with Keio University uses a plate made by laser-welding steel plates with different thickness.
The main material of the plate is a high-tensile steel plate with a tensility of about 1470MPa. Designed and manufactured using computer simulation, the steel frame will be the basis of small electric supply cars that comes with a battery, motor, tires and other parts need for moving, and a cabin or container can be mounted on it.
The electric vehicle to which the new frame will be applied autonomously moves around indoors and outdoors. As the base of the vehicle, the frame supports the cabin and contains a battery, inverter, in-wheel motor, suspension and a steering system. Due to the amount of load, the frame has to be right, strong and light to increase fuel efficiency. The unique manufacturing process has allowed the developer to increase the rigidity by seven times and reduce the mass by 16 percent.
Via: TechOn
