Cost reduction continues to lead the list of challenges facing automotive engineers, but designability and emissions regulation issues are quickly rising, according to automotive engineers responding to the eighth annual DuPont Automotive/SAE survey. Fuel economy and safety remain in the top five challenges, increasing in urgency over last year.
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Although cost continues to be rated as the top challenge for automotive engineers, its priority dropped 6 percent compared to 2001 results. Issues such as designability, which increased 9 percent from last year, and emissions regulations, which increased 6 percent — are pushing cost to a lower priority.
“There is always strong pressure to keep costs down, but this year’s survey also shows that the industry is facing considerable design, fuel economy and environmental challenges that can only be solved by advancing technology,” said Walter L. Fields III, vice president – Automotive Engineering Materials, DuPont Automotive during a press briefing at SAE.
This year, more engineers believe the timeline for 42-volt technologies in North America may be pushed back, but are still optimistic about the prospects of advanced automotive electronics. Almost half of the respondents believe the 42-volt battery system will be introduced in this market within the next 10 years. Also, 40 percent of engineers believe hybrid alternative-power vehicles hold the most promise for mass production in the long term, with 35 percent of engineers predicting fuel cells will be the next most likely alternative-power vehicle.
“There are more revolutionary innovations waiting to debut on vehicles than any other time in our industry’s history, and 42-volt technology is the system that will help put many of these technologies on the road,” said Fields.
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By GlobalDataInterest surrounding recycling remains flat over the past two years, according to the survey results, but proposed international regulations targeting recycle content could push this issue to the forefront, said Fields. “Developing sustainable technologies that truly have a positive impact on the environment and public health and safety while contributing positive economic results is a pervasive challenge. The solutions revolve around partnership and choice and require innovation.”
