European Aluminium’s event Driving Mobility to a Low Carbon Future highlights vehicle lightweighting and CO2 targets

European Aluminium’s event Driving Mobility to a Low Carbon Future exploring the potential of lightweighting to reduce CO2 emissions in transport, played host more than 250 participants and speakers from EU institutions, industry and academia on 27 April 2017.

Key decision makers like MEP Adina-Valean, high level Commission officials, industry representatives, academia and NGOs shared their views on how the transport sector can reach future CO2 targets in the most cost efficient manner led by European Aluminium.

“The aluminium industry is a strong supporter of the transition to low carbon mobility. As a lightweight material, using aluminium in vehicles both reduces CO2 emissions and improves fuel efficiency,” stated Kjetil Ebbesberg, Chair of European Aluminium and Executive Vice President of Rolled Products at Hydro.

“Demand for aluminium in the automotive market – already growing for several decades – is projected to further increase in the coming years,” he added.

The aluminium content in cars is expected to increase by 30% over the next ten years, from 150 kg today to 200 kg in 2025, if lightweighting is duly supported by policy makers. Currently, the average European car weighs 1400 kg. The car can be made 200 kg lighter by replacing mild steel by aluminium, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by up to 16 grams per kilometre. Increasing aluminium content in cars could significantly help car manufacturers reach their target.

Mr Ebbesberg continued, “Policymakers must remember that lightweighting is also a strategic priority for the European car industry. The aluminium industry has invested more than € 1.1 bn in auto body sheet over the last decade.”

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Commenting on the lightweighting needs, Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium said, “Lightweighting solutions are integral to limiting CO2 emissions from vehicles and reaching future EU targets. Currently the situation in the EU is paradoxical: heavier cars are allowed to emit more CO2 emissions than lighter cars. We expect the new regulation to remain technology-neutral. In practice, this means abandoning the mass-based approach. Car manufacturers should be free to choose the most cost efficient solutions to attain their CO2 reduction objective.”

The event also displayed electric motorbikes to virtual reality cars to bikes made from recycled beverage cans to the visitors.