Alcoa Lauds New Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards

Dec. 20, 2007
Says automotive industry can meet goals through use of lightweight materials.

Alcoa announced on Dec. 20 that it commends the U.S. Congress and the White House for approving new vehicle fuel efficiency standards incorporated in the energy bill. The new law requires 35 miles per gallon fuel average for new domestic vehicles, including SUVs, by 2020 -- a 40% increase from current corporate average fuel-economy (CAFE) standards.

"We are confident that the automotive industry will be able to meet or exceed these goals through the increased use of lightweight materials," said Kevin Kramer, president, Alcoa Wheel Products. For more than a century, aluminum has repeatedly proven its ability to reduce vehicle weight and increase gas mileage while enhancing passenger safety."

Since 1990, the increased use of automotive aluminum has avoided burning more than 22.2 billion gallons of fuel. Additionally, each pound of aluminum replacing two pounds of iron or steel in a car can save a net 20 pounds of CO2 emissions over the typical lifetime of a vehicle.

"Alcoa looks forward to collaborating with automobile manufacturers on a new generation of aluminum solutions to further reduce greenhouse gasses," said Kramer. Alcoa is a founding member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership and the Global Roundtable on Climate Change. Alcoa also has reduced its own greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25% since 1990.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!