Johnson Controls is to develop a lightweight automotive design concept to reduce vehicle weight and aid fuel economy.
Known as CAMISMA – carbon fibre amid metallic structural interior component using a multi-material approach – the project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
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The project funds research that seeks to replace steel and light alloys with fibre-reinforced composites, including carbon fibre in automotive designs. Partner
organisations include Evonik Industries, Jacob Plastics, Toho Tenax Europe and the Technical University Aachen. The CAMISMA project has an initial time-line of three years.
“As a result of climate change and the declining reservoir of fossil fuels, a key challenge for the automotive industry is to develop fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles,” said Johnson Controls automotive experience VP technology management Andreas Eppinger.
“Vehicle weight is a key factor in determining fuel consumption, so it is important for projects like CAMISMA to help accomplish this goal.”
The CAMISMA project focuses on using multi-material systems in lightweight designs. Traditionally, using thinner sheets of steel reduced component weight.
This technology cannot be further developed so the need for new materials and design is more important. The CAMISMA project focuses on the use of fibre-reinforced composites (FRC), particularly those based on carbon fibre to replace steel.
