On the one hand, materials of lower weight need more energy to produce but, on the other hand, they reduce the consumption in the useful life. Only a consideration of the entire life of the automobile can determine if the lightweight design is actually environmentally efficient.
A life cycle analysis from the process of production to the end of life is the only method to give reliable answers to this question. There are no easy answers in this respect. Furthermore, legal regulations concerning limits of carbon dioxide and recycling rates do not only require lightweight materials but also materials which are easier recyclable.
John Heckman
PE INTERNATIONAL
E-Mail+1 303 442 6969
"The GaBi software and datasets have been really useful to evaluamore
