Automotive Engineering - September 2023 - 24

LIGHT,
COVER STORY
FANTASTIC!
Sustainable Product: The
2024 Polestar 2 produces
up to 3 tons less CO2
compared to the model
released in 2020.
Sustainable Process: ArcelorMittal is supplying recycled and renewably
produced steel that offers significantly reduced CO2 emissions.
Sustainable Product
Winner (passenger vehicle): The 2024 Polestar 2 features next-generation
electric motors, quicker charging and longer range - now up
to 654 km (406 miles) as measured by the Worldwide Harmonized
Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). The EV also has a reduced carbon
footprint, with some versions purportedly producing up to three
tons less CO2 compared to the model released in 2020. Polestar says
it uses blockchain technology within its supply chain to expand raw
material traceability and address social and environmental issues.
Winner (commercial vehicle): Nikola emphasized recycling when
developing its new Tre FCEV (fuel-cell electric vehicle) - 100% of
scrap from the production of pre-consumer batteries was recycled
and/or reused. In addition, 100% of hazardous waste produced during
production was safely recycled, the company claims. A circular
reuse program also was implemented for all battery pallets, and the
vehicle manufacturing process consumed no water.
Runner-up: Lucid Air has enjoyed the industry and EV-enthusiast
accolades for its flagship Lucid Air sedan, which the EV manufacturer
claims has broken records for range, charging speeds, aerodynamics
and performance. With its core technology designed and engineered
in-house, the EV can add 300 miles (483 km) of range with 22 minutes
of charging, has an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.197, and
includes trims with an EPA-estimated range of up to 516 miles (830
km) and energy efficiency of 4.6 miles (7.4 km) per kilowatt-hour.
Sustainable Process
Winner: ArcelorMittal was recognized for its commitment to using
biomass for carbon-neutral steelmaking. Its Port-Cartier pellet plant
in Quebec, Canada reportedly became the first in the world to substitute
pyrolytic oil for heavy fuel oil on a permanent basis. By using
this biofuel, produced locally by BioÉnergie AE Côte-Nord Canada,
ArcelorMittal reduces its emissions and builds a regional energy ecosystem
utilizing local resources: iron and the forest.
" This is only the first step in the energy transition of mining in
Canada. Once we reach full potential, we will be able to reduce our
24 September 2023
emissions by 200,000 tons per year, thus enabling the
production of more-sustainable steel, " an ArcelorMittal
representative said at MBS.
Runner-up: Brose introduced a remanufactured,
lower-cost e-bike drive that saves 21 kg (46 lbs.) of
carbon emissions per unit, while maintaining quality
standards. The process recovers and restores previously
sold, worn-out or non-functional products to
" like new " conditions and saves materials and costs.
Honorable Mention: Kasai Kogyo's Kasai Hi-Papia
(KHP) material is composed of 100% recycled polypropylene
(PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and pure
talc. Material scrap from the KHP manufacturing process
is reused, and the production system can support
different recyclable plastic contents in various regions.
" We see great opportunity within the entire cabin
space for interiors, " said Kevin Smart, VP of design
engineering at Kasai North America. " Commercial vehicles
also are a great application - large commercial
trucks and storage areas in work vans, for example. "
Responsible AI
Winner: UK-based startup Volteras is building an application
programming interface (API) that gives businesses
access to EV ecosystem data with a two-week
integration that would otherwise take them years to
integrate, the company claims. Its products allow organizations
to reduce energy waste and emissions,
better manage EV fleets and optimize charging using
its smart-charging algorithms.
" We are working directly with automakers who are
building electric vehicles, as well as those who are
building everything that electric vehicles interact with, "
Peter Wilson, CEO of Volteras, said in a video acceptance
speech. " The idea [with this] data layer...is that
businesses can access all the data they need to build
new products and services in one singular place. "
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
FROM LEFT: POLESTAR; ARCELORMITTAL
Automotive Engineering - September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - September 2023
