Will Volvo consider automotive aluminium for lightweighting? Sensors to replace wiring soon

<p>Global automotive manufacturer Volvo has joined the European Union research project which aims at replacing copper and aluminium cables in heavy commercial vehicles with wireless sensors. The result of the project is expected to be an overwhelming reduction in the volume of metal and plastic used for cabling. While this can prove to be a huge setback for Volvo's copper suppliers, the prospects of sensor performance and lightweighting capabilities can open up new opportunities for the automaker as well as for automotive aluminium body solutions suppliers. <br /><br />Reduction in cabling and vehicle weight has been a major area of focus for global automakers for more than a decade now. Volvo, too, has been exploring the possibilities of using lightweight materials for making their trucks lighter while reducing the need for copper and aluminium cables via on-board automotive ethernet. This project can brighten the potential of automotive aluminium body solutions being used in Volvo trucks down the line. <br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Volvo%20NRV.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />The rise of aluminium wire as a conductor has already contributed to a significant fall in the automotive use of copper. The use of wireless sensors on board would lead to further decline in use of copper in automotive electrical systems. &nbsp;<br /><br />Japan&rsquo;s Furukawa Automotive Systems, a unit of Furukawa Electric Co., has developed corrosion-proof terminals for aluminium wires in a harness, which happens to be the backbone of a car&rsquo;s electrical system. Furukawa has been supplying aluminium wire harness systems to Honda&rsquo;s light vehicles and Toyota&rsquo;s luxury vehicles.<br /><br />{googleAdsense}<br /><br />If the EU-Volvo research shows improved productivity, chances are that many automakers globally would shift to internet-based connectivity. Plus, Volvo might also start taking automotive aluminium extrusions and automotive aluminium sheets more seriously for lightweighting. Both ways, possibilities will be endless for the automotive aluminium suppliers to explore and further build on their expertise. <br /><br />The project is scheduled to come to an end in 2017, but Volvo Group will continue with the work in this area in house.</p>