New Steel Industry Guidelines to Help Car Makers Increase Fuel Efficiency and Safety, Reduce Carbon Emissions and Contain Costs

Brussels, 15 March 2009 – Just as the world’s auto industry is doubling efforts to reinvent itself, so too is its primary materials supplier in the form of new global guidelines for advanced high-strength steels. WorldAutoSteel, the automotive group of the World Steel Association, announced today the release of the newest version of the Advanced High-Strength Steel Application Guidelines (AHSS Application Guidelines), bringing together the world’s experience and knowledge on the use of the latest sheet steel technology. The Advanced High-Strength Steel Applications Guidelines (AHSS Application Guidelines) Version 4.0 is available free for download today right here at WorldAutoSteel.org.

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To avoid unintended consequences, vehicle emissions should be evaluated using a life cycle assessment approach

Brussels, 15 February 2010 – WorldAutoSteel joins corporations from 17 countries and 20 industry sectors in a road test of a new global framework for green house gas emissions (GHG) measurement.  The road test is part of the GHG Protocol Initiative convened by the World Resource Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), whose mission is to develop internationally accepted GHG accounting and reporting standards and promote their use worldwide.  WorldAutoSteel announced today its participation in the road test for one of two new standards developed through the GHG Protocol Initiative: the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard.  This standard provides guidance for the preparation of a GHG emissions inventory for a given product. 

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UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative

Brussels, 22 February 2010 – WorldAutoSteel announces today its participation in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Life Cycle Initiative, as a Gold Sponsor in partnership with the World Steel Association.  The Life Cycle Initiative was launched to respond to the call by governments around the world for a life cycle economy.   Through it’s participation with worldsteel and its involvement in the Life Cycle Initiative, WorldAutoSteel hopes to advance life cycle thinking with policymakers and customers around the globe. 

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Brussels, 5 May 2010 – WorldAutoSteel unveiled key findings today on the progress of FutureSteelVehicle (FSV) Phase 2, a global steel industry effort to develop advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) architectures for electrified vehicles that reduce life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Following is a summary of the interim results presented at North American automotive conference “Great Designs in Steel (GDIS),” convened by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI):

  • New benchmark in weight reduction achieved through Advanced High-Strength Steel optimised structures, enabling powertrain downsizing for affordable electrified vehicles.
  • Portfolio of innovative steel solutions that apply to full range of electrified or internal combustion engine vehicles.
  • New design methodology to realize the best environmental solution for compliance with future vehicle emission regulations.
  • CO2 emissions, measured through a life cycle assessment, dramatically reduced in seven optimised sub-system structures, at lower or comparable costs.
     

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FutureSteelVehicle aims to develop AHSS steel body structures for advanced powertrain vehicles that reduce GHG emissions over the total vehicle life cycle

Steel Technology Assessment and Design Methodology Divulged for Seven Sub-Systems that reduce vehicle carbon footprint

Brussels, 30 June 2010 – WorldAutoSteel today releases interim report, FSV Steel Technology Assessment and Design Optimisation, detailing the development and optimisation of seven light weight, vehicle structural subs-systems that reduce the vehicle’s carbon footprint. The report documents the optimisation of multiple solutions for the rocker, B-pillar, roof, rear and front rails, front upper load path and battery tunnel load path members. Within this portfolio of solutions are applications that all vehicle manufacturers and segments will find relevant, each evaluated on the basis of cost versus weight and life cycle Greenhouse Gas GHG emissions.

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Brussels, 2 August 2010 - WorldAutoSteel announces the release of an updated model for vehicle life cycle assessment (LCA), the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) GHG Material Comparison Model-June 2010. The newly updated Excel-based model now includes steel emissions data from the 2010 World Steel Association’s (worldsteel) global steel Life Cycle Inventory(LCI) and the most recent (2005) dataset provided by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI).

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Greener, Lighter, Safer Steel Vehicles Can Be Achieved Through New Vehicle Noise, Vibration and Harshness Approach

Detroit, 22 April, 2009 – A study commissioned by WorldAutoSteel and presented today at the Society for Automotive Engineers 2009 World Congress shows automotive engineers a new approach to design for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) called “Hybrid Interior Noise Synthesis (HINS).” The study illustrates how vehicle components can be optimized for NVH performance and weight by applying the new approach and lightweight steel solutions.

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Lighter, Stronger, Greener Steel Bodies to Help Automakers Increase Efficiency at Lower Cost

Summary:
•    Phase 1 technology and component evaluations complete, four technical specification options were considered – FSV-1 (battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) and FSV-2 (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and fuel cell electric vehicle)
•    Phase 2 vehicle concepts, to be completed in 2010, will provide optimized steel designs that meet or exceed future environmental, fuel economy, safety and weight standards

Brussels, 31 August 2009 – As worldwide demands for affordable, safe and high efficiency vehicles surge, the global steel industry’s WorldAutoSteel body is launching the Phase 2 of its Future Steel Vehicle programme (FSV) aimed at helping automakers optimize new propulsion technologies that will soon enter showrooms.

The FSV Programme recently completed Phase 1 of its research and today releases its findings and plans for Phase 2.

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Inclusion of LCA Abstract Points to Broader Assessment of Environmental Performance in Auto Industry, According to Global Steel Trade Association

Copenhagen, 12th March 2009 – While tailpipe emissions are currently the de facto measurement for greenhouse gas emissions for autos, life cycle assessment is gaining legitimacy as a more comprehensive measurement of GHG emissions. The World Steel Association in partnership with its automotive branch, WorldAutoSteel, will present its latest findings on energy savings and CO2 emission reductions in steel on 10-12 March at the International Scientific Congress on Climate Change in Copenhagen, further backing their commitment to mitigate climate change effects.

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ETA's Accelerated Concept to Product (ACP) process sample design interpretations for FSV

DETROIT, December 18, 2009 - The Accelerated Concept to Product (ACP) process, marketed by Engineering Technology Associates, Inc. (ETA) was the winner of the 2nd Annual Society of Automotive Engineers Detroit Section / Massachusetts Institute of Technology Enterprise Forum (MITEF) Vehicle Innovation Competition.

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