Aluminum Boosts MPG and Battery Range, Cuts Carbon
When high-strength, lightweight advanced aluminum alloys replace steel, vehicles can keep or even increase their size, while still cutting weight. The less a car or truck weighs, the less fuel or battery power is needed to move it, extending range and reducing tailpipe carbon emissions (and emissions at every stage of a vehicle’s life).
Some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the world rely on automotive aluminum in their designs. With the help of aluminum, the Ford F-150 has the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings among gas-powered full-size pickups. Thanks in part to its aluminum body, the Tesla Model S electric car continues to redefine mobility by combining award-winning efficiency with uncompromised performance.
As more hybrids and fully electric vehicles hit the roads, the need for heavy battery power can be reduced in an aluminum intensive vehicle because less weight requires less battery power. And, when aluminum is used to reduce the weight of commercial vehicles, freight haulers can save on fuel costs and are able to carry more payload efficiently.