Automotive Aluminum

Aluminum use continues to rise in the automotive industry. Automakers are turning to aluminum more and more because of its many advantages (weight savings, recyclability, parts consolidation, crashworthiness, etc.). Below are some facts about aluminum and the automotive industry.

Use:

Transportation industry uses 29.2 percent of all the aluminum manufactured in the United States -- making it the number one market for aluminum. Almost seven billion pounds of aluminum were shipped to the transportation industry in North America in 1997. Automakers use aluminum for applications ranging from wheels to frames to suspension components -- the possibilities are nearly limitless.

Environmental Strengths:

More than 85 percent of post-consumer automotive aluminum scrap and virtually all post- manufacturing automotive aluminum scrap is recycled. Sixty to 70 percent of all automotive aluminum is sourced from recycled metal. Aluminum has "sustained recyclability" -- which means it can be recycled again and again without a decline in material performance or quality. Secondary aluminum requires just 5 percent of the energy needed to produce primary aluminum. Aluminum recycling is a successful enterprise without the need for government incentives or regulation. Due to aluminum's lighter weight, it can be an important contributor to increasing a vehicle's fuel economy and reducing emissions.

Advantages:

Today, aluminum accounts for less than 10 percent of a vehicle's total weight, but it represents 35-50 percent of the total material scrap value at the end of its useful life. Aluminum has one-third the density of steel, which means a component can be 1.5 times thicker than a steel version while remaining 50 percent lighter. It can absorb twice as much energy as steel at the same weight. It's corrosion resistant, unlike steel which must be coated with other metals like zinc to improve its resistance to corrosion. Aluminum's lighter weight and stiffness can enhance a vehicle's acceleration, handling, and reduce its noise, vibration and harshness characteristics.

For more information on aluminum in autos, visit www.autoaluminum.org