Heavy steel components used in cars and other vehicles made in India might see a strong competition from lightweight aluminium components. Pointing out that lower weight of vehicles leads to lower consumption of fuel, the alumimium producers in the country are pushing for enhanced use of aluminium in vehicles made by Indian auto player such as Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra and Mahindra, and TVS Motors.
Aluminium parts, as of now, constitute only 40 kg of a typical car in India, which should be increased to 140 kg per vehicle, demanded members of the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) as well as members of International Aluminium Institute on Monday who assembled here for a two-day industry conference.
“More than 20 per cent of the green house gases released in India are by vehicles. If weight of a vehicle is reduced by 100 kg using aluminium parts instead of steel, the vehicle would save 2,000-litre of fuel during its life. This saves immense volume of green house gases being emitted,” said Shashi Maudgal, executive president, Hindalco Industries and member of AAI. Maudgal stated that aluminium is a safer and stronger option to steel though it is priced a little dearer.
“Since aluminium is going to cut weight of a vehicle, and thus consume less fuel, automobile players should use it as much as possible. Added price is the only concern for them, as of now. But over the next few years, Indian auto industry would realise the eco-friendly features of aluminium and would prefer it to steel,” he added. Studies have shown that if the mass of a car is reduced by 100 kg, the CO2 emitted per kilometre by this car is reduced by 9 gram.
