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Auto industry gets serious about lighter materials
AP ^ | Jun 9, 2014 1:55 PM (ET) | DEE-ANN DURBIN

Posted on 06/09/2014 1:10:56 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Roofs made of carbon fiber. Plastic windshields. Bumpers fashioned out of aluminum foam.

What sounds like a science experiment could be your next car.

While hybrids and electrics may grab the headlines, the real frontier in fuel economy is the switch to lighter materials.

Automakers have been experimenting for decades with lightweighting, as the practice is known, but the effort is gaining urgency with the adoption of tougher gas mileage standards. To meet the government's goal of nearly doubling average fuel economy to 45 mpg by 2025, cars need to lose some serious pounds.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: auto; cafe; cars; deathtrap; fueleconomy
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Lighter doesn't mean less safe. Cars with new materials are already acing government crash tests.

We all know the press wouldn't lie, the government wouldn't fudge figures and Washington, DC is just looking out for our higher good.

Do I need a sarc tag?

1 posted on 06/09/2014 1:10:56 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW
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To: DJ MacWoW
Plastic windshields

Just

No

2 posted on 06/09/2014 1:11:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: DJ MacWoW

Oh joy , having fun being blown off the highway by every big rig


3 posted on 06/09/2014 1:12:27 PM PDT by molson209 (Blank)
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To: BenLurkin

Sounds like coffins on 4 wheels. Cheap ones at that.


4 posted on 06/09/2014 1:12:51 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: molson209

What? You don’t want to be a leaf in the wind?


5 posted on 06/09/2014 1:13:36 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW

If a tractor trailer traveling 50 mph rear ends your SUV and pushes it under the trailer ahead of you, no amount of heavy material is going to keep you alive.


6 posted on 06/09/2014 1:13:45 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
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To: DJ MacWoW

Hmmm, no traction in the snow, getting blown off the road and only costs twice as much? Sign me up!!!!


7 posted on 06/09/2014 1:14:12 PM PDT by jdsteel (Give me freedom, not more government.)
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>> To meet the government’s goal


8 posted on 06/09/2014 1:14:34 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: bert

It isn’t going to matter. Lighter cars will kill you before big rigs get a shot at you.


9 posted on 06/09/2014 1:15:13 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW

12 mil caskets on wheels.


10 posted on 06/09/2014 1:15:30 PM PDT by lightman (O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance, giving to Thy Church vict'ry o'er Her enemies.)
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To: DJ MacWoW

I’ve been hypermiling in my Scion FR-S. It’s got a standard six speed transmission and is rated at 30 mpg highway. My average was 30-31 but for the last five tanks I’ve averaged between 37 and 38.5. It’s all about how you drive. It’s also a lot of work. You have to be thinking all the time.

But the savings are substantial. I have a 125 mile round trip commute so I use a lot of gas. I’m able to extend a single tank by about 90 miles, which works out to around $11. That’s eleven dollars savings PER TANK!


11 posted on 06/09/2014 1:15:37 PM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: lightman

Yup!


12 posted on 06/09/2014 1:16:00 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: molson209

Oh joy , having fun being blown off the highway by every big rig


That’s exactly what I was thinking. I have a first generation Scion xB. Imagine that box 600 lbs lighter. :-D


13 posted on 06/09/2014 1:16:27 PM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: DJ MacWoW

“Lighter doesn’t mean less safe. Cars with new materials are already acing government crash tests.”

Great. So a lighter car goes on the road. Gets 60 MPH. Unless the Mac truck that hits it is also light, and the cargo it is carrying also light, this vehicle is useless.


14 posted on 06/09/2014 1:16:32 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz ("Heck of a reset there, Hillary")
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To: bert

“But they drove with pride....”


15 posted on 06/09/2014 1:17:21 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: EQAndyBuzz

As a side note, I get 30-35 MPH in my Elantra. I’m happy.


16 posted on 06/09/2014 1:18:15 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz ("Heck of a reset there, Hillary")
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To: DJ MacWoW

Cheap in terms of quality! They won’t be inexpensive!
You can take that to the bank. On the other hand, the bank is probably not a good idea.


17 posted on 06/09/2014 1:18:48 PM PDT by free from tyranny
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To: EQAndyBuzz
And scary. Don't forget scary.

I'm a kid from the 60's when they made real cars. This sounds as safe as a Model T.


18 posted on 06/09/2014 1:19:08 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW

I’ll stick with steel thanks. F series Ford of 70s vintage.I have nothing against Carbon Fiber. I like steel. And if I had to use more gas/spend more on it, so be it.


19 posted on 06/09/2014 1:20:20 PM PDT by Norm Lenhart (How's that 'lesser evil' workin' out for ya?)
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To: DJ MacWoW

“Cheap ones at that.”

Trust me. Light materials does not mean cheap (as in inexpensive.) Typically, if they match or even come close in capability to the heavier material they cost many times as much.


20 posted on 06/09/2014 1:20:57 PM PDT by Gen.Blather
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